Dagestan: Gimry villager asserts that he was kidnapped policemen

Magomed Gamzatov, a resident of the village of Gimry, Untsukul District, who was kidnapped on February 21 by unidentified armed men in camouflage uniform and masks, said that the crime was committed by law enforcers.

For the first time, the information about kidnapping of the 40-year-old Magomed Gamzatov appeared on February 21 from his wife – Aminat Abdurakhmanova. She told that her husband was taken away to some unknown place by unidentified armed men. On the same evening locals blocked the highway "Makhachkala-Botlikh" and demanded from the authorities to disclose the fate of the kidnapped person. The protest rally was stopped, when it became known that Gamzatov was released.

"Early in the morning, a dozen of unidentified armed men in camouflage and masks broke into in my house; later I learned that they were policemen. They behaved rudely and aggressively, and did not present any documents. They asked me if I knew the whereabouts of Magomed Suleimanov. I said no. Then, the policemen demanded that I dressed and put me into the car. There they handcuffed me and put a bag over my head," said Gamzatov to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his story, even though he could not see where the car was going, by fragments of conversations he understood that they were driving to the ROVD (District Interior Division) of the neighbouring Gergebil District. His questioning continued already in the building of the ROVD, said Gamzatov. "I was again asked about Suleimanov and other persons whom I didn't know. They didn't like my answers, but I felt no pressure. Interrogations repeated every hour; and by the evening I was told that they'd take me to Makhachkala," continued Gamzatov and added that policemen threatened him.

Mr Gamzatov believes that his subsequent release was caused by the rally of his fellow-villagers who blocked the republic's highway "Makhachkala-Botlikh". "At about 10:00 p.m. I understood from excerpts of conversations that the villagers had undertaken certain actions. A few minutes later policemen came up to me. They said that I'd soon be released. They explained nothing and didn't apologize. Soon I was put in a car; and they drove me to the highway, where they took off the handcuffs, removed the bag from my head and returned my mobile phone. Then, they put me out straight on the road, advising not to talk much," said Gamzatov.

The on duty unit of the Gergebil ROVD refused to comment on the incident.