In Dagestan, relatives of kidnapped persons intend to hold large-scale protest action

Relatives of two local residents kidnapped today from the mosque in the village of Bairam, Khasavyurt District of Dagestan, announced their plans to hold a protest actions if the young men were not released by the morning of July 21.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the two local residents were kidnapped today while leaving the mosque.

"Those kidnapped are Anvar Guseinov, 21, and Mukhammad Sulaev, 29, both residents of the village Station Bairam. The young men came to the mosque for the evening namaz. Other mosque visitors were eyewitnesses of the kidnapping," a relative of one of the victims told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

A relative of the kidnapped Sulaev told that Anvar and Mukhammad "were grasped at the exit of the mosque and put into a UAZ van by men in camouflage uniform wearing masks." She said that there were at least 10 kidnappers.

"The kidnapped guys were not registered at the police; they were never prosecuted before; therefore, their relatives don't understand the reason of such power agents' actions. Both Anvar and Mukhammad are strictly observing Muslims; that is why their kidnapping can be viewed as another act of pressure on believers by power agents," said the woman.

A relative of Anvar Guseinov said that at the Khasavyurt ROVD (District Interior Division) they were told that the kidnapped persons had not been brought there. "But an employee - our acquaintance - told us that half an hour before that our two fellow villagers had been brought to the ROVD. However, the on duty unit denied the fact," she said.

According to her story, if the detainees were not released by the morning, their relatives would hold protest actions - both at the ROVD and at the GOVD (City Interior Division) of Khasavyurt. "Also, if it does not work, we'll block the highway Khasavyurt-Makhachkala. We're sick and tired of this power agents' behaviour. It's especially insulting, when such things occur in the sacred month of Ramadan," said the relative of one of the kidnapped guys, adding that now the villagers hold a rally for coordination of further actions.

One of the eyewitnesses of the incident, Magomed by name, also suspects that power agents were involved: "I've seen the guys were caught; it all happened so quickly that nobody managed to interfere."

The on duty unit of the Khasavyurt ROVD did not confirm to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent the fact of detention of two worshipers of the mosque of Station Bairam.