21 March 2013, 12:00
Kabardino-Balkaria: imam of village mosque arrested on suspicion of financing militants
The investigatory authorities of Kabardino-Balkaria suspect the imam of the mosque of the village of Svetlovodskoe, Zolsky District, of funding members of the armed underground, the local department of the ICRF has reported today.
Mohamed Margushev, the imam of the village mosque, who had access to parishioners' donations for the needs of the poor, was handing over the raised money to Islam Zhanov, the leader of the local illegal armed formation (IAF), the ICRF believes.
According to the investigation, in the period from March to October 2012 the suspect gave out about 80,000 roubles. Besides, Margushev bought cell phones, SIM-cards of mobile operators and electronic media carriers for Zhanov.
A criminal case has bee opened against Margushev and he is now in custody, the ICRF reports.
