Dagestan: Kurbanov brothers refuse to plead guilty of terrorism

The brothers Ismail and Mukhtar Kurbanov from the Kayakent District of Dagestan joined an illegal armed formation (IAF), stored explosives, while the younger, Mukhtar, fought for the "Islamic State" (IS), a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation by the court in Syria, the prosecution has stated. The brothers have refused to plead guilty.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 7, 2019, a resident of Dagestan announced the disappearance of his sons Ismail and Mukhtar Kurbanov. On February 8, it turned out that the brothers were kept at the police station.

On September 17, the North-Caucasian District Court held its first session on Kurbanov brothers' case.

According to the state prosecutor, in March 2012, Mukhtar Kurbanov and his brother received explosive devices from one of IAF members. On February 8, 2018, law enforcers detained the Kurbanov brothers and seized ammunition from them.

Later, according to investigators, in October 2014, Mukhtar Kurbanov, "while supporting the ideas of creating a world-wide Islamic caliphate," arrived in the Syrian city of Rakka, which was then controlled by militants. According to the prosecution, Mukhtar Kurbanov took part in battles against the governmental troops of the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) until the end of 2016.