Caucasian experts see political motives in Khiramagomed Magomedov's case

Before pronouncing the verdict to Khiramagomed Magomedov, accused of involvement in the "Hizb ut-Tahrir" recognized in Russia as a terrorist organization, Caucasian experts assessed his case. Denis Sokolov believes that Khiramagomed Magomedov is being prosecuted for ideological and religious reasons. Irina Starodubrovskaya pointed to the human rights component of Khiramagomed Magomedov's activities. In case of pronouncement of the guilty verdict, the injustice of the judicial system in the Russian Federation will be proved, noted Evgeny Varshaver.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in January 2014, Khiramagomed (Muhammad) Magomedov, one of the leaders of the public organization "Union of the Just", was suspected of involvement in an extremist organization. According to the activist, the reason for the institution of his case was his participation in the conference "Problems of Islam in Russia" held in Moscow in 2012. In May 2015, he was accused of illegal manufacturing and storing of weapons.

According to sociologist Denis Sokolov, Senior Researcher from the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (known as RANEPA), the trial in the Khiramagomed Magomedov's case was politically motivated. Denis Sokolov has called Khiramagomed Magomedov one of the most prominent activists in Dagestan.

The charges are not consistent with the image of Khiramagomed Magomedov, believes Irina Starodubrovskaya, an expert on Northern Caucasus from the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy. She has noted that she knew the activist well before the beginning of the criminal prosecution.

Evgeny Varshaver, the chief of the Migration and Ethnic Studies Group at the RANEPA, one of the authors of the study "The Values of the Dagestani Muslims: Results of a Survey", prepared for the "Caucasian Knot", believes that weapon was planted to Khiramagomed Magomedov.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.