Clergyman from Dagestan shot dead in Yaroslavl

Today in the city of Yaroslavl, Abdulmadjid (Arthur) Manukyan, 29, a native of Dagestan and the deputy imam of the central city mosque, was found dead at the door of his own apartment.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Umar Adilkhanov, a casualty's close friend, that the gunman made several shots at Manukyan presumably from a TT pistol; and the churchman died in place from the wounds.

"Abdulmadjid lived on the third floor. The investigation has previously found that the killer was waiting for him on the second floor. When Abdulmadjid approached the door of his flat, the killer shot several times at his back. Presumably, the gunman was not a professional, as part of the bullets hit the wall. The body of the casualty had traces of three shots: two bullets hit the chest and one - his head," said Adilkhanov.

He added that Abdulmadjid, an Armenian by birth, had long joined Islam and in recent years lived in Dagestan. "He had a thorough knowledge of Islam; that is why the natives of Dagestan, who live in the Yaroslavl Region, invited him here in 2009. Since then he worked as deputy imam of the central mosque; he had no enemies and was not engaged in any commercial or political activities; power agents had no claims to him; moreover, they rendered all possible assistance to Abdulmadjid," said Adilkhanov.

According to his story, Abdulmadjid was bringing up - together with his wife - a minor child. "Tomorrow (on November 10) his body will be taken to Dagestan, where he would be buried according to Islamic canons," said the source.

Umar Adilkhanov noted the deterioration of attitude to Dagestani natives in Yaroslavl and the region. He did not rule out involvement of local nationalists in the murder.