Mutsolgov: Esmurziev's murder has nothing to do with shelling of Geroev's house in Ingushetia

The events that took place almost simultaneously in Ingushetia on April 19 - attempts on Alikhan Geroev, head of the criminal investigation department of Sunzha OVD, and religious figure Musa Esmurziev - are not linked with each other. This is the opinion of human rights activist Magomed Mutsolgov, leader of the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization "Mashr" and a member of the Expert's Board of Russian Ombudsman's office.

We remind you that on April 19 the house of Alikhan Geroev, head of the criminal investigation division of Sunzha District Militia Department (OVD) was shelled in Ordzhonikidzevskaya village, and his brother and sister were wounded.

On that very day, in the yard of household No. 6 in Sharipova Street in the city of Nazran, unidentified persons, who arrived in a VAZ-2110 car of silvery colour, made numerous shots from automatic firearms at Musa Magomedovich Esmurziev, born in 1971, who later died from the wounds.

"There's no analogy at all here. When they pursue militiamen, it's clear. Why have they shot Musa dead? These gunmen should be caught and asked why they did it," Mr Mutsolgov said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"I don't think that Musa had received any threats. Rather, I don't know about it. But I can tell for sure that he was one of the most influential young religious figures in the republic. He was a clever scientist, very educated in Islam, and his specialization was medicine," said Mutsolgov. "I never heard anyone speak badly of him, same as about any conflicts with the authorities or any other agencies."

Magomed Mutsolgov asserts that he did not know Esmurziev personally but he "heard that he had taught young people in the mosque for many years, he trained children in Islam."

"There was no blood feud there; he also couldn't have any big money. I don't know what the motive could be," Mr Mutsolgov has concluded.