Family Disputes Daghestani Man's Official Cause Of Death


By RFE/RL's North Caucasus Service

July 25, 2014

Relatives of a man found dead in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Daghestan say he was kidnapped and killed and did not die in an explosion as officials say.

Local officials announced on July 23 that Asoltan Amayev died after a handmade explosive device exploded while he was inside his car.

However, Amayev's relatives insist he was kidnapped by law enforcement officers on July 22 and hadn't been seen since.

Aisha Selimkhanova, a member of a local human rights center, confirmed that Amayev's wife contacted her organization on July 22 regarding her husband's abduction.

Police also said that Amayev had a criminal record that included participation with an illegal armed group.

Violence is common in Russia's North Caucasus region, where rights defenders complain that law enforcement is often involved in criminal activities and abductions.

With reporting by kavkaz-uzel.ru