Defence of those arrested within Dalgatov's death case claims that proofs remain unproven

The three law enforcers from Makhachkala, who were the first to be detained within the case of the death at the police station of Kurban Dalgatov after interrogation, fell under the hot hand amid public outcry; there are no proofs of their involvement in the incident, Mirzakhan Gasanov, an advocate of one of them, has stated. The persecution of one of those arrested, Magomed Malikov, may be revenge for his truthful testimony, Shamil Khadulaev, a member of the Public Chamber of Dagestan, has noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 10, the court arrested two detectives (operative agents) on charges of torturing the detainee, Kurban Dalgatov. On October 14, it became known that five criminal investigation agents had been arrested within this case, and their arrest was extended until December 21.

The two new figurants in the same case, like those arrested earlier, are charged under the article of abuse of power with the use of torture, which negligently resulted in the death of the victim, or causing grievous harm to one's health (provides for up to 15 years in prison), Alina Malikova, a lawyer and an ex-wife of one of the defendants, Magomed Malikov, has stated.

Magomed Malikov has an alibi, but investigators don't allow confirming it, the advocate stated earlier in her appeal to the President of Russia.

Shamil Khadulaev, a member of the Dagestani Public Chamber, has noted that throughout the entire investigation, Malikov gave same testimonies. "From the very beginning, he declared non-involvement and told everything as it happened," Mr Khadulaev has explained, suggesting that this could be "revenge for his truthful testimonies and for the fact that he named the involved operative agents."

According to Mirzakhan Gasanov, an advocate, the first detainees – Malikov, Kurbanov and Atavov – were detained for no due reason. "There was a big resonance. Therefore, at first they grabbed everyone they could. These three policemen were unlucky that they had fallen under the hot hand," Mr Gasanov has added.