In Dagestan, Farid Babaev's brother states pressure on murder witnesses

Sedredin Kanberov, a new suspect in the murder case of Farid Babaev, Dagestan human rights activist and member of "Yabloko" Party, is in hiding, but his brother Ruzmedin Kanberov, who is an employee of the central machinery of the MIA, exerts pressure on the witnesses, said the casualty's brother Arthur Babaev.

"During the investigation, all the witnesses were treated by him; and he possesses all their personal information. Nobody has threatened me personally, but witnesses complained to me that certain people approached them and said: what do you need it for; don't go to the trial; you've no interest to take part in this case," Arthur Babaev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. In his opinion, it was enough for the people to start "being anxious and afraid."

According to Mr Babaev, those who are suspects of committing the murder - Rasil Mamedrizaev and Seferali Sefimerzoev - had met Sedredin Kanberov on the eve of the murder. "They went together in one car and traced my brother and watched him. They were identified by the witnesses, who have already evidenced. One occasional eyewitness even saw one of them with a pistol in hand in the crime scene. The neighbours also saw this person. If Kanberov wasn't guilty, he could tell this, instead he's hiding," said Arthur Babaev.

All the three - Rasil Mamedrizaev, Seferali Sefimerzoev and Sedredin Kanberov - are distant relatives. Initially, Mamedrizaev and Sefimerzoev evidenced at the court that the customer of the murder was Kerimkhan Abbasov, son of the head of the Dokuzparin District, who had allegedly paid for the murder, as Farid Babaev had repeatedly severely criticised him.

However, this version started to collapse, when during the investigation detailed questions were asked, as Arthur Babaev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Now, Kanberov is in official search, but nobody is searching him, pending conviction of the performers. Should they be acquitted, he will not be searched at all and will automatically become innocent," said Arthur Babaev, having added that only detention of Kanberov will allow establishing the motive of the murder.