Journalists treat Akhmednabiev's professional legacy as valuable

The murder of Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev, a correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" in Dagestan, which was committed two years ago, should not go unpunished, rights defenders and editors-in-chief of Dagestani editions have stated. Colleagues and readers pay credit to Akhmednabiev as a talented and principled journalist.

Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev was killed on July 9, 2013, in the outskirt of Makhachkala. He became the 17^th journalist killed in Dagestan in the last 20 years and the second employee of the "Caucasian Knot" killed during performance of his professional duties. On July 30, Russia’s investigators have suspended the preliminary investigation into the murder of journalist. In the end of September the decision to suspend the investigation was cancelled by the Kirov District Prosecutor's Office of Makhachkala.

The international community has shown great attention to the murder of Akhmednabiev, Thomas Hughes, the executive director of the human rights organization "Article 19", told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The number of organizations, not only from Russia, but also from Europe and the world, who spoke about Akhmednabiev's murder, demonstrates a sense of shared loss felt when such bold and independent journalists are killed," Mr Hughes is sure.

Khadzhimurad Sagitov, the editor-in-chief of the Dagestan weekly "Novoye Delo", where Akhmednabi also worked, told the "Caucasian Knot" that now even those who did not like him before, praise Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev.

Akhmednabiev has a circle of devoted readers, who followed his every publication, said Magomed Magomedov, an observer of the "Chernovik", adding that "Akhmednabiev, like many others slain Dagestani journalists, will surely be remembered by the professional community, his family, friends, and those readers who enjoyed his creative work."

If violence against journalists remains unpunished, "it creates a misperception that it is dangerous to speak openly; and that authorities don't care," Thomas Hughes told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"We, as a global civil society, must demonstrate that we should not tolerate the impunity for killing journalists anywhere in the world. That is why we come together, demanding that governments around the world, including Russia, have provided full security of those who dare to speak openly," Mr Hughes has added.

The authorities should not forget Akhmednabiev and other assassinated journalists. Magomed Magomedov is convinced.

"No doubt, Akhmednabiev will be remembered by the authorities, both federal and republic's ones, and by power agents. Akhmednabiev, Kamalov, Akhmedilov, Abashilov, Magomed-Salikh Gusaev and others killed journalists and public figures are a symbol of impotence of those services and structures, which are responsible for disclosing these killings," said Magomedov.

Dagestani authorities remember the murder of Akhmednabiev quite well, Abash Abashilov, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Youth of Dagestan" and a brother of the journalist Gadji Abashilov, who was killed in Makhachkala in March 2008, is convinced.

"Unfortunately, now we can only commemorate, and not only Akhmednabi. The republic has lost a number of talented and courageous journalists. And almost none of the murders was solved to the end. I think the authorities will remember about him; they know that criminals were not punished, but whether the crime will be eventually disclosed is difficult to say," Abash Abashilov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

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