Dagestan: Maidanskoe villagers state disappearance of eight persons during CTO

Eight residents of the village of Maidanskoe, Untsukul District of Dagestan, are missing after the special operation, locals told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. They added that the village is still blocked by power agents.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in the morning on July 6 the Untsukul District of Dagestan was put under the counterterrorist operation (CTO) regime. Law enforcers blocked the villages of Maidanskoe, Zirani and Balakhani. According to the police, on July 6 in Maidanskoe they killed five suspected militants, and on July 8 – two more.

Residents of Maidanskoe assert that eight young villagers were detained and disappeared in the course of the CTO.

"All men aged 16-50 were taken to the headquarters, which was opened in the local school. There they were photographed, fingerprinted, and samples of their hair and nails were taken; apparently, this was DNA assaying. Some were forced to enter the houses, where militants could be hiding. Those who refused to do it were beaten. Several people then disappeared, and we are afraid that they are no longer alive. The Imam of the village mosque was also beaten up and disappeared. Nobody knows where these people are now," a villager, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.