In Chechnya, colleagues and relatives of assassinated human rights activists are sure that this crime will never be solved

The course of investigation into the kidnapping and murder of Zarema Sadulayeva, leader of the youth NGO "Let's Save the Generation", and her husband Alik Dzhabrailov, infuses no optimism in their colleagues and relatives. One week after the incident, inspectors still cannot announce any possible organizers of this crime.

The victims' colleagues and relatives treat the assertions of power officials that this double murder was caused by blood feud as absurdity and a "monstrous lie." The investigation, however, sticks to this version as the main one.

"So far, there's no progress in the investigation. Three versions are considered; the main one is based on the blood feud against Alik Dzhabrailov, a former participant of a grouping of militants, subordinated to terrorist Shamil Basaev. The problem is that the witnesses of the incident are afraid to evidence and shed light on the incident," a source in law enforcement bodies of Chechnya said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He refrained from announcing the other versions, considered by the investigation, having only noted that they have to do with the victims' professional activities.

"This case has nothing to do with any blood feud! Umar (Dzhabrailov's second name, - comment of the "Caucasian Knot") had never been a militant, as asserted now by our authorities and power agencies," one of Alik Dzhabrailov's close friends has stated, having added that the charge of participating in illegal armed formations was "stitched" to Umar by power agents, who followed the then widespread practice in Chechnya; his conditional punishment is another confirmation.

According to the head of one of human rights NGOs, he has no doubts that the murder of Sadulayeva and her husband was backed by local power agencies.

"I spoke with employees of the office of the NGO 'Let's Save the Generation'. They say that those who took away Zarema and Alik were certainly law enforcers, since they behaved very easy; several times they quitted the office and then returned. Then, they asked the spouses to go with them for clearing out some questions. When Sadulayeva and Dzhabrailov asked why this could not be done in place, they were told that everything should be officially documented, and that after the interrogation they would be brought back," said the source and noted that neither Sadulayeva nor Dzhabrailov or any other employees of the NGO had slightest suspicions that something was wrong.

Then, the kidnappers came back, took away the mobile phones and some documents from the office and hijacked Dzhabrailov's car; only after that their colleagues felt serious doubts as to the legitimacy of what had happened.

"Law-enforcement bodies were immediately notified about the incident. They were even given the number of the car used by kidnappers. However, nobody had taken any serious actions to search the victims. Moreover, there was data that Sadulayeva and her husband had been brought to the ROVD of the Leninskiy District of Grozny; however, power agents would not check this information either," said the source and added that should the local authorities and power agents be not involved in this crime, the culprits can be found. If they are, there are no hopes for fair punishment of the criminals.