Analysts argue about masterminds of militants’ attack in Dagestan

The involvement of participants in a militants’ attack in Dagestan in the “Islamic State”* and other organizations has not been confirmed; there are no signs inherent in the actions of the above-mentioned terrorist organization, analysts note. At the same time, they have argued about possible connections between militants in Derbent and Makhachkala, the “At-Takfir wal Hijra”** organization and a police raid on the Astrakhan mosque.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on June 23, in Derbent and Makhachkala, militants attacked synagogues and an Orthodox church. As a result of the attacks, 22 people were killed, including 17 law enforcers, and 46 others were injured. The US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated that the militants’ attacks were organized by the “Vilayat Caucasus” (a terrorist organization, banned in Russia by the court, – note of the “Caucasian Knot”), a division of the “Islamic State”*.

The style of the militants’ attack which took place on June 23 does not resemble the terror acts committed by the “Islamic State”* or its units, notes journalist Idris Yusupov***. “A distinctive feature of IS* terror acts is extensive information preparation, both before and after a terror act,” Idris Yusupov*** notes.

The journalist emphasizes that for the first time, the version of the possible involvement of the “At-Takfir wal Hijra”** organization in the terror act was voiced by Olga Romanova****, the head of the “Rus Sidyaschaya” (Russia behind Bars) organization. If the law enforcement bodies accept the above-mentioned version, then, Idris Yusupov*** believes, this could result in further persecution of certain groups of Muslims with increasing sentences.

As for the affiliation of the participants in the militants’ attack committed on June 23, then, Idris Yusupov*** believes they could be an isolated grouping that radicalized outside of any network.

When it comes to the police raid on the Astrakhan mosque, Idris Yusupov*** suggests that it could not be related to the terror acts. “Similar raids after Friday prayers are often being carried out by law enforcers in Russia as a preventive measure,” the journalist explained.

*On December 29, 2014, the Supreme Court (SC) of the Russian Federation recognized the organization “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” (ISIL or IS) as a terrorist international organization and banned its activities in Russia.

**Declared extremist by the Russian Supreme Court in 2010 and banned in the Russian territory.

***On November 24, 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) included Idris Yusupov in the register of foreign agents. The journalist filed an appeal against the MoJ’s decision.

****Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.