Police start searching for Derbent residents disappeared in Grozny

Three natives of Dagestan are wanted as missing, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Dagestan reports. Instagram users argue whether the kidnapping could be ordered by the Chechen authorities.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that relatives of Derbent residents Nillan Aliev, Seidaidin Mustafaev, and Khakim Askerov complained about their disappearance in Grozny. With reference to the relatives of the disappeared men, the "Baza" Telegram channel reported that one of the Derbent residents who did not return from Grozny criticized the leaders of Chechnya, and shortly before their disappearance, the Derbent residents posted a video on social networks with them smoking in front of the "Heart of Chechnya" Mosque. Instagram users suggested that the posted video became the reason for the disappearance of the Derbent men.

"Three natives of Dagestan are wanted as missing," the Dagestani MIA reports on its page on the social network Instagram today.

Many users who left their comments under the post agreed with the version that the Chechen authorities were involved in the disappearance of the Dagestani residents. "The missing men are either dead or jailed somewhere. Chechnya is not a joke for you. And neither its leader. If you say a word against him, you're dead," wrote user fatima__2807. "You may find them in some basement," user musaev.msaid advised.

However, some users also criticized the version about the kidnapping of the Derbent residents by law enforcers. "Why do you think it is Ramzan Kadyrov who took them? He does not need them at all," wrote user habihabihabi_a.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 20, 2019 at 11:15 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.