Dagestani native complains about prohibition to visit his native village

Gazimagomed Abdullaev, a native of Dagestan, who permanently resides in Moscow, stated that border guards did not allow him visiting his native village Vitsiyatl of the Tsuntin District. According to the Border Guard Department of the Russian FSB in the Republic of Dagestan, Gazimagomed Abdullaev was not allowed to the village of Vitsiyatl, since he failed to obtain a permission to stay in the border area.

"Starting from June 12, I'm on vacation. On June 20, I decided to visit my homeland. In Makhachkala, I took a shuttle bus. I reached the 'Bezhta' border post, and there, border guards took our passports to check them. It took 40 minutes, after that the border guards stated that I'm refused to enter, since I do not have permanent residence in the Tsuntin District. I explained them that I was going on vacation to my family and that in the village of Vitsiyatl my parents have a house and a farm; however, the border guards did not want to listen to me," Gazimagomed Abdullaev said.

Izrail Aliev: Gazimagomed Abdullaev is not registered in the village

According to Gazimagomed Abdullaev, he called Izrail Aliev, the head of the village administration, and asked him to assist in solving the problem. "However, he refused to help me," Gazimagomed Abdullaev has noted.

In his turn, Izrail Aliev, the head of the administration of the village of Vitsiyatl stated that he agreed with the actions of the border guards.

"Gazimagomed Abdullaev is my classmate; however, the border guards were right, since he is not registered here, although his family and children really reside in the village," Izrail Aliev stated.

He has also explained that Gazimagomed Abdullaev is considered to be a recruiter of young people to illegal armed formations (IAFs).

Gazimagomed Abdullaev: I intend to appeal to court

Gazimagomed Abdullaev stated that he appealed for assistance to the administration of the Border Guard Service, where he was explained that his written appeal would be considered within a month and then he would be given an answer. "I asked them to accompany me to the head of the administration, and they answered me that the head of the administration met citizens by prior appointment only," Gazimagomed Abdullaev said.

According to him, in the administration of the Border Guard Service, a man, who introduced himself as Alexander, promised to help him. "I received a phone call from him, and he asserted that the border guards did the right thing, since a counterterrorist operation (CTO) is being conducted in the Tsuntin District and the entry of people without registration is prohibited," Gazimagomed Abdullaev has explained.

He has said that in the near future he intends to appeal to court. "I need to get a refusal letter from the administration of the Border Guard Service, and I will appeal to court with that letter," Gazimagomed Abdullaev stated.

In his turn, lawyer Gazimagomed Khiriev treats the actions of the border guards as unlawful.

"Firstly, no CTO regime was introduced in the Tsuntin District, and, therefore, no restrictions on movement of citizens should be imposed. Secondly, Gazimagomed Abdullaev is a Russian citizen, and no one has the right to forbid him to enter whatever places that he would like to visit, especially his native village, where his family resides. Thirdly, in the event if even there are any exceptional circumstances, Gazimagomed Abdullaev should be at least temporary registered in the Tsuntin District," the lawyer has emphasized.

Gazimagomed Abdullaev was not allowed to the village of Vitsiyatl, since he failed to obtain a permission to stay in the border area. This was stated by the Spokesman of the Border Guard Service Administration of the Russian FSB in the Republic of Dagestan.

According to the situation report for June 20, published on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Dagestan, on that day, no CTO regime was introduced in the Tsuntin District.

"Searched conducted in my house in Vitsiyatl"

Gazimagomed Abdullaev has also reported that on June 24, his house in the village of Vitsiyatl was searched: "Military men broke into my house. They put everyone on the floor. Soldiers insulted and humiliated my wife, my son, and his friend. They asked provocative questions, including those about to me. They seized phones and turned everything in the house upside down."

He said that his troubles with local law enforcement agencies had begun in 2004: "As soon as I became interested in religion and strictly adhere to the norms of Islam, the attitude towards me of militiamen, some my relatives and villagers changed dramatically. I asked them to be true Muslims, and after that they all hung a label of 'Wahhabi' on me. I was constantly invited or brought to the police station. As soon as something happens somewhere, they just come for me. On average, I have been to the police station twice a month. In 2010, I had to go to Moscow because of persecution."

He has also stated that he appealed for help to the public organization "Pravozaschita" (Advocacy), since he fears that he could be killed by power agents and declared a militant.

In their turn, officers from the press service of the Dagestani MIA stated that they had no information on the fact of the search, conducted in the house of Gazimagomed Abdullaev.