Dagestan: journalist detained at rally dispersal

Today, law enforcers of Dagestan detained, when dispersing a rally held by relatives of the suspects of murdering Adilgerei Magomedtagirov, head of local MIA, Murad Muradov, a journalist of the Dagestan-based weekly "Novoe Delo" (New Business). The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent learnt about it from Marko Shakhbanov, editor-in-chief of the weekly.

According to his story, the incident happened near the building of the MIA of Dagestan, where the protest action took place. "In the morning I learnt that relatives of Shamsullah Borziev from Rakhat village and Abdulmedzhid Magapov from Botlikh village (both villages are in the Botlikh District), detained as suspects of murdering Magomedtagirov, were going to rally again. I sent a journalist with a photo camera there to cover the event. 30 minutes later my friends called me and said that the reporter was brought to the Sovietskiy ROVD (District Interior Division). After a while, he returned, but his camera had no memory unit; therefore, I had to go to the militia to take away the unit," said Mr Shakhbanov.

Murad Muradov said that as soon as he had approached the place of the rally he was detained by militiamen. "Hardly could I make two photos from afar, I see - several persons in black uniform and masks rushed towards me. One of them snatched away the camera, another one said that photographing was forbidden and took me to the militia station. They were rude and gave the camera back to me only in a car, but without the flash memory. At the ROVD, they apologized to me saying that filming protesters is forbidden. I was let free two hours later," said the journalist.

One of the protesters - Ahmadudin Borziev, Shamsullah father, - said that the militia detained several persons, and during the dispersal dozens suffered. "They were beating everyone at a stretch. A guy who shot the dispersal by his mobile phone suffered most - several militiamen rushed on him, beating with truncheons, kicking him and using electric shockers. Victims are now in hospitals taking first medical aid," he said.

Mr Borziev-senior did not exclude suits after respective medical examinations and told that after dispersal of the rally they were received by Dzhavpar Ramazanov, head of the municipal formation "Botlikh District". "He apologized to us for the incident and said that the bosses of the MIA of Dagestan were also sorry. He asked us to go home and promised every possible help. We believed him and decided to disperse," said Ahmadudin Borziev.

The MIA's press service refused from comments. The traumatologic hospital confirmed numerous appeals for help. "People came to us, and we rendered emergency help to them," doctor from the reception ward said.