Residents of Khasaviurt intend to block road unless suspects of murdering Umakhanov are released

Residents of Khasaviurt in Dagestan promise to block the "Kavkaz" highway once again unless the investigators fulfill their promise to release the suspects of murdering Magomed Umakhanov, son of Akhmedpashi Umakhanov, Dagestan National Assembly deputy and the nephew of the Khasaviurt leader.

For reference, the federal highway "Kavkaz" was blocked near Khasaviurt today. The residents, outraged by the fact that the four persons suspected of murdering Magomed Umakhanov are still in prison, have gone out into the streets. According to different estimates, 120 to 400 people attended the meeting.

The reason for the meeting seems to be the situation developed in Khasaviurt following the murder of  Magomed Umakhanov on April 28. According to some information, Umakhanov was murdered by mistake. The killers intended to murder Magomed Umarov, brother of Akhmedpashi Umakhanov's son-in-law. The latter is believed to have beaten the district militia officer of Khasaviurt district department of internal affairs. The militiaman decided to revenge.

After the murder of Umakhanov, officers of Khasaviurt fast reaction unit and district department of internal affairs were arrested. Umarov who had beaten the militia officer was arrested, too. Last week he was released and, according to the information of the "Caucasian Knot" source in Dagestan, he was immediately included into the wanted list. Meanwhile, the four suspects of the murder have been kept in prison for four months, but no investigation is conducted and no charges have been laid with regard to them.

Timur Mustafayev, journalist of the "Chernovik" newspaper who attended the today's meeting, has told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the residents met with Shamil Zainalov, chair of the Dagestan government, representatives of SKP and the officer investigating the murder of Umakhanov.

"The relatives were explained the progress of the investigation and mutual understanding was reached. As a result, the investigating bodies promised that they would conduct all necessary actions within 10 days. After that, the suspects would be released, probably, against a written undertaking not to leave the place", says Mustafayev. The residents promised that, if the investigators failed to live up to their promise, they would be ready to go out and block the highway again, added our interlocutor.