In Dagestan, lawyers fear that mosque parishioners may be accused of schoolmaster's murder

Dagestani advocates do not rule out that after the murder of the school principal Sidikullah Akhmedov, committed in the village of Sovietskoe, repressions may be launched against the parishioners of the local mosque, who had been already beaten once.

According to lawyer Ziyautdin Uvaisov, the principal's murder is beneficial for supporters of the military solution of the conflict from both parties. Lawyer Magomed Magomedov said that the police's misconduct may lead to destabilization.

"Currently, law enforcers of the Magaramkent District are actively interrogating the mosque parishioners. We have every reason to fear provocations and pressure from power agents to influence the investigatory and the victims, who had suffered from the local police," said Uvaisov.

According to his story, the believers have no relation to the crime. "The attackers were without masks; they were not identified by the wife and son of the casualty," said Uvaisov. He believes that the murder is disadvantageous for the parishioners, since it may lead to repressions against them.

"Today, it's up to the bodies of state power: whether they choose the method of power and start persecuting the mosque believers, or prefer to act legally and wisely appraise the situation," said the lawyer.

His colleague Magomed Magomedov is of the same opinion. "It's important not to give in to emotions and act strictly within the law, not to further destabilize the situation. This is especially true for the police of the Magaramkent District," he said.

Said Gereikhanov, Imam of the mosque located in Sovietskoe, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the situation in the village is strained. "At three in the morning I was summoned to the ROVD. They took my explanation on where I was. The policemen behaved correctly. They also summoned other guys. The villagers look askance at us; they talk nonsense; I have a feeling that the gap between us is broadening," said the Imam.

The on duty unit of the Magaramkent ROVD refrained from comments.