In Dagestan, two local residents detained on suspicion of murdering school principal

In Dagestan power agents detained brothers Ibragim and Salman Seferbekov on suspicion of murdering on July 9 the principal of the school in Sovietskoe village. In the houses of the suspected explosives and ammunition were found, which, according to the brothers' relatives, had been "planted".

The detention of Ibragim Isabegovich Seferbekov, born in 1983, a resident of Derbent city, was reported by his wife Svetlana, who on July 16 appealed to the Human Rights Centre "Memorial" with a written statement. Svetlana said that on 9 July in the morning at the bus stop she and her husband were detained by policemen who failed to introduce themselves and show any IDs. Ibragim was forced to go with them, and Svetlana accompanied her husband.

Then they were brought to the city police division, where Ibragim was questioned why he was wearing such a long beard, whether he got a criminal record and he served in the army. Then the policemen announced that the principal of the school in Sovietskoe village was murdered and, according to power agents' information, the spouses might have been involved in the murder. Svetlana and Ibragim were asked what they were doing on that day. According to Svetlana, her husband had an alibi – he had been seen by their neighbours at the house. However, power agents said that Ibragim could take a car to come to Sovietskoe village, kill the principal and return home.

The spouses were kept in the department until 12:30 a.m.; then they were put into a car and went together to their home to inspect the house. The district police inspector, who came up immediately upon arrival of power agents, was in the kitchen. According to Svetlana, he kicked a pillow, asking what was inside it. Then he tore it and pulled out a package whereat one of his colleagues shouted: "Do not touch it; let the master himself take it."

According to his wife, Ibragim opened the package and said: "This is not me, why you have planted it?" There were 16 gun rounds and a grenade F-1.
Ibragim was arrested and now he is kept at the IVS (temporary detention facility) of Derbent city. Nobody is allowed to visit him.

The detention of Ibragim's brother – Salman Seferbekov, born in 1985, – was reported by his father Isabeg Seferbekov, a resident of Sovietskoe village, who on July 16 also appealed to the HRC "Memorial" with a written statement. Isabeg told the human rights activists that Salman was planted a TNT block, cord and gun rounds. The farther asks for help to release his sons, he fears that they are being tortured, demanded to confess to a crime they have not committed.

The law enforcement agencies of the republic disseminated no official information about the incident yet.