Dagestan: residents go out to rally demanding to punish those guilty of their comrade's death

Today at night, the Federal Highway "Rostov-Baku" was blocked near Uzun-Otar village by protesters who demanded to punish the killers of Marat Satybalov, a resident of Khasavyurt. He died today in the morning in the Khasavyurt City Hospital from numerous bodily injuries received as a result of beating on May 2. Over 600 persons took part in the action.

"The protesters demanded that the criminals - whether in uniform of without - should be punished according to the law; otherwise they'd make a Shariat trial," Abulgasan Musaev, one of participants of the action, told the "Caucasian Knot"" correspondent.

Another participant of the action - Daniyal Khapisov, a resident of Burtunai village, Kazbek District - told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about the incident, as a result of which Satybalov was lost.

"On May 2 we decided to go to the mountains to have rest. We invited some other friends; in total, there were 7 of us. We went in two cars. Our car was ahead, and when we left Dylym village, Kazbek District, we called our friends but nobody answered. We turned back, entered the village and saw a crowd of about 100 persons near the building of local ROVD (District Interior Division). Hardly we came up to the crowd, when we were attacked by Murids in green skull-caps (Moslems call Murids the persons who want to devote themselves to Islam and master the basics of Sufism, - comment of the "Caucasian Knot") and militiamen in masks," said the source.

"Then we learnt that they were agents of the special fighting group of the Kazbek District commanded by Anas Satiraev. Without saying a word, they began beating us with their fists and feet. They were beating us for long, broke my nose; my friends have broken ribs; almost all of us have head traumas," said Khapisov.

According to his version, they were liberated by other militiamen who stood aside and just watched the beating. "They interfered only when understood that we could be beaten death," he added.

Murad Churaev, who was in the second car, told about what had happens with him and other passengers. "One of us had toothache. We drove to a drugstore to buy some analgin. The seller didn't like our beards, and he telephoned to the militia to report that his drugstore was visited by 'Wahhabites'. Soon an UAZ van arrived with the members of the special fighting group. They put us to the wall with our hands up and searched our car. Then, they started beating us," said Churaev.

According to his version, Murids ran up to the venue and took the most active part in the fight. "We and our friends, who returned to see what had happened with us, were beaten also in the yard of the ROVD. Then, right in our on eyes, they put a grenade launcher and trotyl into our car; while Murids began shouting: 'Put more!' and 'Give them to us, we'll get sense with them ourselves!'," said Churaev.

As a result of beating he received a cut wound of his forehead. He said that interference of their relatives who work in power agencies and whom they managed to call saved them from death. "One of us called them. Then, the planted weapons were taken away back, my four friends were released, but three of us, me and Marat inclusive, were detained till morning. The trial took place in the afternoon, and the magistrate judge fined us by 500 roubles under false documents for alleged 'resisting the militia'; then, we were released," said Churaev.

Khapisov said that on that very day they addressed the Khasavyurt City Hospital, but doctors rendered no help to them. "We told doctors that our traumas were received in a fight, but they even didn't call the militia. They didn't even examine Satybalov, who was feeling worse and worse. Marat was X-rayed; a doctor looked at it and said that all was OK," said Khapisov.

He added that yesterday Satybalov felt bad, he was hospitalized again; and after examination he was immediately operated on. "More than three litres of blood were found in his pleural cavity; Marat did not come to consciousness and died today in the morning," he added.

He also said that the casualty was the only son of his mother. Satybalov worked in the marketplace, where he sold footwear; he supported his mother, wife and two minor children.

Khapisov explained that the protesters decided to go home only after the Minister of Internal Affairs of Dagestan Ali Magomedov had promised that Anas Satiraev, his subordinates and all those guilty would incur due punishments.

No comments could be received from the on duty unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Dagestan and the Kazbek ROVD: nobody answered phone calls.