Astakhov and Magomedov to supervise inquiry into rape of 13-year-old girl in Khasavyurt

The Runet blogosphere is actively discussing the case of a three-day-long violence over a 13-year-old girl committed back in summer of 2010 in Khasavyurt by a group of teenagers who have not been punished yet. After a broad resonance of the incident on the Internet, Pavel Astakhov, Children's Ombudsman in Russia, and Magomedsalam Magomedov, President of Dagestan, took the investigation into this rape under their personal control.

The crime against a 13-year-old girl from Khasavyurt was committed last summer. When she was on her way home after school, she was abducted and subjected to brutal violence. The kidnappers kept the child for three days, mocking at her.

Madina Ayubova, the girl's mother, is most of all outraged by the fact that the detained rapists may escape punishment, "because they have high-ranking supporters in law enforcement bodies."

According to advocate Sapiyat Magomedova, who undertook to represent the interests of the minor victim, three young men had been detained in the case, "they are in custody," while the victim's mother for a long time "had been misled by saying that the fourth figurant was announced into search." "However, as an advocate, I saw no documents confirming the search. Moreover, from my familiar militiamen I learned that he has not sought because of a tacit instruction not to touch him," she said in her comment on the case.

According to the expert's conclusion, as noted by the advocate, the girl "was raped; however, the investigatory committee did not believe this conclusion, and appointed a genetic examination." "It was held by Taniyat Isaeva, an expert of the Republic's Bureau of Forensic Examination. After her studies, it became "mysteriously" clear that the traces extracted from the assay belong to none of the detainees," said Magomedova. "But we don't agree with the conclusion of this examination and will insist on a repeated study, but outside the Republic of Dagestan."

"The mother of the victim assumes that, taking into account threats, blackmail and bribery, the above expert could quite well be interested in that particular result of the studies," advocate Magomedova has added. "Today, this case is investigated by the investigatory committee of Khasavyurt, where defendants' relatives work."

According to the advocate, one of the suspects, "who had devised the whole crime and who had been selling the girl for 150-200 roubles during three days, is still at large and may quite well continue his criminal activities."

Sapiyat Magomedova stresses that this case would have remained unsolved, if not for the publicity in the Dagestani blogosphere.

Activists have also addressed Pavel Astakhov, then, the Russian Children's Ombudsman took the inquiry into the crime under his personal supervision. He sent cables to Alexander Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF), Andrei Nazarov, Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Dagestan, and Magomedsalam Magomedov, President of Dagestan, asking them to hold "a thorough investigation of the heinous crimes against the thirteen-year-old resident of Khasavyurt."

Pavel Astakhov also instructed Intizar Mamutaeva, Ombudsperson for Children's Rights in the Republic of Dagestan, to go to Khasavyurt and assess the situation from the perspective of the child's rights.

Today, the incident was commented on by President of Dagestan Magomedsalam Magomedov. "As a Dagestani, a Muslim and a father of three children, I am deeply outraged by what happened. Any attempts to bring the persons guilty of committing this heinous crime out of responsibility will be severely suppressed," he said.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Zaur Kakhrimanov, head of the Republic's Committee on Youth, that the suffered girl with her mother will be sent to a sanatorium at public expense.

In the context of the incident, the heads of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Dagestan also appealed to imams of mosques and law enforcement officials. "Having learnt about the inhuman act committed by a few teenagers from Khasavyurt in relation to an underage girl, we came to extreme indignation," runs the statement of the SAM. "The incident is a result of impunity, which, unfortunately, now reigns in our society."

"We are officially addressing imams of all the mosques and other religious authorities, asking them not to agree under whatever pretext to take part in masliats (a masliat is reconciliation in the Islamic law, - note of the "Caucasian Knot") in such cases. For what was done is an abomination that cannot be viewed from any humane position, especially if every Dagestani, be it an imam or a militiaman, imagines his own family in this situation," runs the statement of the SAM of Dagestan.

Dagestani bloggers launched an initiative to raise funds in support of the affected girl. Currently, an account was opened, where people are invited to donate. The appeal was already responded to by the members of the fan club of the "Anzhi" Football Club, named "Wild Division".

The account number is: 4081 7810 0603 2081 5389. Ayubova, Madina Zaudinovna. Dagestani OSB No. 8590/8.

Representatives of the suspects in this case make no comments on the situation. The investigatory bodies of Khasavyurt, where the incident is investigated, also refused to give any comments to the "Caucasian Knot". However, after the incident became widely known, law enforcement bosses agreed to meet activists of the broad public. Tomorrow, on February 18, the questions on this case should be answered by officials of the ICRF. The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. in the conference hall of Trade Union Palace.