Report of human rights activists about shooting of the meeting in Dagestan published

The public commission for investigating the meeting dispersal in the Dokuzparinskiy District of Dagestan on April 25 this year arrived to the conclusion that human rights were severely breached in the Republic. The investigation was held, in particular, by the Moscow Helsinki Group and the movement "For Human Rights."

"The demonstration and meeting were peaceful; there were many women and children among the participants. There were no extremist slogans and appeals. The authorities were represented at the meeting only by representatives of law enforcement and power structures. Representatives of the administration refused to appear despite the appeals of the demonstrators," the published today report runs.

The commission has concluded that "the dispersion of the meeting bore the character of non-provoked shooting - application of firearms to kill - without a warning." A local resident died during dispersal of the meeting, several more were wounded.

"Firearms and special means were used at chasing the dispersed participants of the demonstration. Currently, the wounded persons are in a heavy physical condition, without the required specialized medical assistance," the human rights activists stated.

"After dispersal of the meeting, they set up a real filtration centre in the yard of the Dokuzparinskiy ROVD (District Militia Headquarters), where they kept during 24 hours (and in a number of cases - up to two-three days) several dozens persons. They kept simultaneously some 60 detainees in two cells. The inmates received no food and water, and were subject to beating and humiliation, including in the presence of the commanders of law enforcement bodies of the Republic's level and prosecutor Lagmanova," runs the report of human rights activists.
 
We remind you that on April 25, a meeting of citizens of the Dokuzparinskiy District of Dagestan, who came out for dismissal of District Head Kerimkhan Abasov, ended in a confrontation with militia. Murad Nagmetov, born in 1973, participant of the action, died in place from a firearm would. Several days later, two more participants of the action died in hospital from heavy wounds - Elman Ahmedkhanov and Zeinal Gajimov, 38, resident of the Mikrakh village of the Dokuzparinskiy District. Participants Zumrudiv Shikhov, Shikhkafar Emirakhmedov, Aliset Alisetov and Tofik Aliev were taken wounded to the Akhtyn District Hospital. The law enforcement bodies of Dagestan reported that 11 militiamen also suffered.