Ingushetia investigates into a murder of local religious figure

Today about 1 p.m., in the city of Karabulak, Ingushetia, a murder was accomplished of Vakha Vedzizhev, a well-known religious figure of the Republic and imam of the Barsuki mosque.

A source in the power agencies of the Republic has informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent as follows: "According to preliminary data, Vakha Vedzizhev and his wife were driving their 'GAZ-3102' car in direction of the city of Karabulak. On the route, they were caught up by a Model 10 'Zhiguli' car, which squeezed them to the road shoulder and forced to stop, then the people from 'Zhiguli' opened automatic fire. As a result, Mr Vedzizhev received heavy gunshot wounds and died from them before he was brought to the hospital. His wife remained safe and sound."

"The investigation is considering several versions of the incident, including murder on common-life motives or with the aim to destabilize the situation. It is not excluded also that the attempt on Vedzizhev could be related to his professional activities. There is information that he was repeatedly threatened in this connection," the source added to "Caucasian Knot."

Vakha-Hadji Dzhabrailovich Vedzizhev was a well-known national religious and public figure. They say in Ingushetia that he possessed a gift of forecasting events and curing people. In 2003, he worked as President's adviser on religious matters. Nowadays, he was the Chief Specialist of the Ministry for Public Relations and Interethnic Matters of the Republic of Ingushetia.