Abakar Abakarov is buried in Istanbul.

THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) WAS PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE FOREIGN AGENT MEMO LLC, OR CONCERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FOREIGN AGENT MEMO LLC.

Dagestani activist Abakar Abakarov was buried in Istanbul. According to his associates, at least 300 people participated in the funeral service. Turkish police have launched an investigation.

According to the "Caucasian Knot," Abakar Abakarov, whom Russian investigators believe to be the organizer of the unrest at the Makhachkala airport, was killed in Turkey, his acquaintances reported on October 17. A native of Dagestan, Abakar Abakarov, who was named as the probable administrator of the Telegram channel "Utro Dagestan," was placed on the Russian wanted list in November 2023. Investigators named Abakarov as one of three organizers of the mass riots at Makhachkala airport, along with politician Ilya Ponomarev* and preacher Israil Akhmednabiyev (Abu Umar Sasitlinsky). In July, the cases of all three were submitted to the Supreme Court of Dagestan for trial in absentia. On October 18, it was reported that Abakarov's body was returned to his family.

Dagestani activist Abakar Abakarov, whose body was discovered in Istanbul the day before, was buried on October 18 in a cemetery in the coastal Kilyos district of Istanbul's Saryer district, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told in the diaspora. At least 300 representatives of the Dagestani diaspora in Istanbul attended the funeral service for Abakarov.

Abakar Abakarov, a native of Dagestan and the alleged administrator of the "Utro Dagestan" Telegram channel, who was wanted by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs following the events in Makhachkala in October 2023, was found dead in Istanbul on October 11-12. Members of the diaspora learned of the murder on the evening of October 17.

According to the Turkish publications HaksozHaber and Milat Gazetesi, Abakarov's body was discovered that morning in a rented villa in the Eyüpsultan district. The villa was rented on October 6, and on October 7, Abakarov met there with an unknown man, who left the house that evening with two bags. The body was found several days later, with multiple stab wounds, according to sources.

Istanbul police have launched an investigation. There are currently no arrests. Turkish law enforcement has not released official statements regarding the identity of the deceased, but the investigation has been confirmed.

A representative of the Dagestani diaspora, familiar with the circumstances of Abakarov's death, told a Caucasian Knot correspondent that the journalist's final days were connected to his trip from Yalova to Istanbul.

According to the source, Abakarov left Yalova, telling friends he was heading "to meet someone in Istanbul." Upon arriving in Istanbul, he called another acquaintance and said he would be staying overnight in Istanbul—he had a meeting and "they would see each other later."

"The villa was rented on October 6th. The next day, on the 7th, Abakarov arrived. He was not alone in the house. During a conversation with a friend, already in this villa in Istanbul, he addressed someone as "Ahi, ahi" (Muslims call other Muslims this, which translates as "brother" - note from "Caucasian Knot"). This means he knew this person, otherwise he wouldn't have been with him in the rented apartment. Clearly, he was some kind of traitor. Later, as we now know, a cleaning lady found the body on October 12th. It turns out Abakar was dead in the house for several days," the source said.

The source said that no official information has yet been received from the police. "I spoke with our guys, Caucasian public figures, and they have also contacted the police. Everyone there knows, an investigation is underway, but for the sake of the investigation, they don't intend to share information right now. Another of our representatives was told that the report will be published "in ten months." "No one has explained why it's taking so long," the source said.