North-Ossetian experts do not associate Rasul Gamzatov's murder with inter-confessional problems

The murder of Rasul Gamzatov is not related to inter-confessional problems, believes Timur Dzeranov, an expert of the North-Ossetian Institute of Humanitarian and Social Research. According to Elbrus Sattsaev, a colleague of Timur Dzeranov, the causes of the tragedy are to be found within the Muslim Ummah (religious community).

Murders of religious leaders seriously weaken the Muslim community of Northern Caucasus, emphasized Akhmet Yarlykapov, the Senior Researcher of the Department of Caucasus Studies of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

Khadjimurat Gatsalov, the Mufti of North Ossetia, believes that the murders of Rasul Gamzatov and Ibragim Dudarov were planned thoroughly.

According to Khadjimurat Gatsalov, after the Rasul Gamzatov's murder, it has been reported that he was killed by militants from other republics and that he had business interests in Dagestan. The Mufti has explained that he believes those versions are not worthy of attention.

Four years ago, Elbrus Sattsaev used to be a member of the Board of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of North Ossetia. He has stated that he knew well Ibragim Dudarov, the Deputy Mufti, who was killed in 2012, and described him as "a very accomplished and positive person."

Akhmet Yarlykapov has emphasized that none of the resonant murders of the religious leaders was resolved. According to him, "extremist Muslim circles have their interest in murdering Muslim leaders and are able to murder them"; however, "we lack transparency and clarity in this matter."