17:36, 21 February 2019

Blogger Alibek Mirzekhanov suspected of having links with Syrian militants

Alibek Mizerkhanov, the blogger. Photo: screenshot of the video by the user Shamil Yusupov https://ok.ru/video/13596232228

Alibek Mizerkhanov, a native of Dagestan, who disappeared in Moscow on February 20, was detained as a suspected recruiter of Syrian militants, his advocate reported.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 20, a blogger's brother said that Alibek Mizerkhanov, detained in the case of a mass fight in Moscow, was released from custody, but after that he disappeared.

On February 16, law enforcers visited the apartment in which Alibek Mirzekhanov lived with his family members. After that the blogger disappeared. On the other day, a source from the law enforcement bodies reported that Alibek Mizerkhanov was detained in connection with the case on a fight near the "Neolith" cafe. According to relatives, the blogger was suspected of disorderly conduct. The blogger's relatives and defence claimed that Alibek Mirzekhanov had an alibi and that he testified against himself under pressure.

Alibek Mizerkhanov is suspected of involvement in terrorist activities, his advocate Shamil Yandarbaev reports.

"They say that our client allegedly recruited someone and tried to incline him to go to Syria," said Shamil Yandarbaev.

The advocate has emphasized that Alibek Mizerkhanov denies the version voiced out by the law enforcement bodies.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 21, 2019 at 10:55 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.