Relatives of people kidnapped in Dagestan plan massive protest action

Today, in Makhachkala, relatives of people kidnapped in Dagestan again gathered near the Republic's Prosecutor's Office. They claimed that they planned to hold a large-scale protest action in Makhachkala.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 14, relatives of Rashid and Arsen Ismailov, Magomed and Abdulla Murtuzaliev, and Timur Danilin, who were kidnapped in Makhachkala in March and May, held a picket demanding that law enforcement agencies should find the kidnapped people. Representatives of the picketers met Andrei Nazarov, Prosecutor of the republic, who promised to take the investigation into facts of kidnapping under his personal control.

However, relatives of the disappeared young men, being not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting with the Prosecutor, intend to continue their protest actions. Today, about 20 persons again gathered at the gate of the Prosecutor's Office. Yesterday's picketers were joined by relatives of Timur Aliev and Ramil Yarmagomedov from Derbent.

"At first, the picketers planned to block traffic in Yaragsky Street in front of the building of the Republic's Prosecutor's Office; however, the number of people was not enough for that, so they just stood near the gate," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Dagestani journalist Zakir Magomedov.

"Prosecutors called the police patrol, which began to withdraw the picketers one by one; however, we did not allowed to detain them," said Zhanna Ismailova, the mother of Rashid Ismailov, who was kidnapped in Makhachkala on May 8. She continued: "Law enforcement agencies at all levels are doing their best, using the slightest pretext and our ignorance of procedural rules to delay the investigation."

According to Zhanna Ismailova, tomorrow, on May 16, and also on May 18, after Friday prayer, relatives of the kidnapped people intend to gather to discuss a plan for the big rally. "We will get together and submit an application to the Mayoralty. Till present, we do not know, when and where a rally will be held and how many people will attend it. However, representatives of 52 families, in which young people were kidnapped, expressed their intentions to participate in the rally," stated the woman.

Relatives of Timur Aliev, who disappeared on May 11, also intend to participate in the rally. Arsen Aliev, the brother of the disappeared man, states that Timur is not involved in anything illegal and that he lived in Rostov.

"In the evening of May 11, he had to leave Makhachkala for Rostov; however, he disappeared. His phone is switched off. On May 13, a call from his phone was made to the phone of his friend Ramil Yarmagomedov," explained the brother of Timur Aliev.

We know who these people are; however, we do not want to file complaints against them. Our goal is to take my brother from them. All people in Dagestan know, what's going on here; however, they could do nothing. People are being kidnapped, killed and then their bodies are being thrown away, and sometimes their bodies are being burned down. It lasts for several years already. If someone is guilty, we do not mind, let them punish him. However, to lose people in such a way, including those people who were not engaged in anything criminal... Everyone knows that and takes no actions. Every day, the prosecutor's office receives complaints, and no kidnapping has been solved. I visited the prosecutor's office and told them that I knew who kidnapped my brother; however, they did not even ask me about names of the kidnappers. So, we want to go out for a rally, and we want the entire country to know what is going on here and authorities to take measures finally," stated Arsen Aliev.

At present, no comments of representatives of the prosecutor's office and other law enforcement agencies of Makhachkala in Dagestan on the statements of the protestors are available.