Relative of Ingush leader seeks money to pay debts and escape prison

Ruslan Evkurov, a distant relative of the leader of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov, who is accused of committing a fraud against residents of the village Dolakovo, is seeking money to pay off his debts to villagers. He also demands that a family from Plievo give 3 million roubles back to him. Should he fail to pay his debts, he may face not probation but a real imprisonment.

Ruslan Evkurov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he was trying to get a bank loan, but he was rejected because he does not work anywhere. He hopes for help of relatives.

According to his story, he had used part of the money raised from the villagers to pay off his own debts. He also gave 3 million roubles to some married couple from the village of Plievo "on development of joint business with them."

"But now they refuse that they had received 3 million roubles from me. When I gave them the money, I took no receipt; I believed on their bare word. Now, I've found a man who was a witness of my handing over the money. I'll deal with the couple under our Ingush laws - elders of my clan will go to sort things out with elders of their clan," said Ruslan Evkurov.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent could not contact the above couple from Plievo, which, according to Ruslan Evkurov, took 3 million roubles from him - their telephone is blocked.

Meanwhile, Senior Lieutenant Alikhan Merzhoev from the investigatory division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Republic of Ingushetia has noted that paying his debts to Dolakovo villagers before the trial is in Ruslan Evkurov's interests. If he fails to do it, he may be sentenced to 5-10 years of imprisonment.

The investigator has no doubts that the case will reach the court. According to his story, he feels no pressure while investigating the case.