Guseinova: figurants of "execution list" in Dagestan dealt with Wahhabite cases

The "execution list" compiled by the grouping of "relatives of lost militiamen", which is disseminating leaflets in Dagestan, contains the lawyers involved in the trials on so-called "Wahhabite cases" and the journalists, who covered the problems connected with kidnappings and torture of people, said advocate Bakanai Guseinova.

It was already reported that the list of 250 persons, whom the "relatives of lost militiamen" are going to take revenge on, includes human rights activists, advocates and journalists.

"Why have these people got in the list? Apart from us, there are plenty of other advocates, who have won many of the so-called 'Wahhabite' cases. I had only two such cases. I defended the guys, who did not kill anybody, but were occasionally recruited; they realized that and repented. I can't say that I'm zealously engaged in defending Wahhabism. I just do my work. If someone killed - I don't defend. I have such principles," said Ms Guseinova.

She also told that she had helped the women sent to her by the Committee "Mothers of Dagestan" - she wrote complaints to the European Court on Human Rights and sent them.

"Journalists got into this list simply because they are not silent; they publish facts of kidnapping, beating and so on; and it means a lot too. I suppose from whom and from where these leaflets come, but now I can't openly assert it; but I can surely tell that relatives of perished employees of law enforcement bodies have nothing to do with it," said Bakanai Guseinova, also a member of the so-called "execution list".

According to her story, so far, she did not receive threats, and strengthening of her safety was the initiative of her friends and acquaintances from the FSB, whom she addressed asking to find out the origin of this "execution list".

"The FSB asked to suspend our activities for a while, until they clear out. They assert that it doesn't outgo from the FSB. They don't know the origin; and now they check the information. The FSB told me to file an application to this end, on the fact of a death threat, in order to open a case; but I didn't do it, because I believe that on the contrary, I can anger them (the authors of the list, - note of the "Caucasian Knot"). I already asked journalists not to make the case broadly public; since already articles appeared in the Internet on the topic; they are disseminated, as if an advertisement. I don't support it," said the lawyer.

As to the opinion spread by media that the appearance of the "execution list" is not a threat but just an attempt to intimidate those enlisted, Bakanai Guseinova said that after what had happened in Chechnya with Natalia Estemirova and human rights activists, she cannot assert any more that this list is just an intimidation.