Rights defenders see no links of attempt on Khamzat Chumakov with beaten journalists

According to human rights defenders and public figures, an attempt on Khamzat Chumakov has been committed amid the statements of criticism voiced against him by Ramzan Kadyrov; the attempt was prepared in advance and was not connected with his condemnation of attacks on journalists in Ingushetia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that today, after the Friday prayer, an explosion occurred near the mosque in Nasyr-Kort. As a result, four persons were injured. Eyewitnesses claimed it was an attempt on Imam Khamzat Chumakov. According to staff members of the mosque, in his today's preaching, Khamzat Chumakov has condemned the attack on journalists and human rights defenders in Ingushetia.

The attempt on Khamzat Chumakov was a planned action which could not be connected with the Imam's criticism of the attack on journalists in Ingushetia. This opinion was expressed by Igor Kalyapin, a member of the Presidential Council for Civil Society Institutions Development and Human Rights. However, he has noted that "such claims may be treated by Kadyrov's fans as an instruction to act."

Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, the project director for Northern Caucasus of the International Crisis Group (ICG), believes the attack may involve opponents of the leader of the region, who seek for his resignation.

According to Bagaudin Khautiev, a member of the Board of the Ingush regional branch of the Association of Lawyers of Russia, Chairman of the Council of youth organizations of Ingushetia, in recent months, there has been tension in the religious sphere, associated with the conflict between the mufti of the republic and the leader of the region, as well as with the statements made by the leader of Chechnya with regard to Ingush religious leaders.

It should be noted that Khamzat Chumakov is a laureate of the contest "Heroes of Civil Society", organized by the human rights organization "Mashr".

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