Hajimurad Kamalov killed in Dagestan had been on a "punishment list"

The name of Hajimurad Kamalov, constitutor of "Chernovik" ("Draft") newspaper, shot down in the evening of December, 15, in Makhachkala was included into the "punishment list" on the leaflets which were spread in Makhachkala in September, 2009.

Kamalov was killed at about 23:30 Moscow time in Magomed Gajiev street, not far from the office of "Chernovik". He was still in the office preparing the next issue of the paper. A friend visited him and then Kamalov went out to see him off. At that moment firing started and all the members of the editorial board ran out, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The wounded journalist was taken to the republican emergency station but he died on the way there.

A masked man was shooting at Kamalov. The murder was committed near the office. This way of murder is not typical of the gunmen's practice.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that on September, 2, 2009, distribution of leaflets began in Makhachkala in which anonymous people threatened with object-orientated "annihilation of gangsters and revenge for the lives of militiamen and peaceful citizens".

"During a whole year we were drawing up lists of members of the so-called paramilitary groups. As of today, we have over 250 persons on the list", the leaflets ran.

Eight Dagestani journalists were ranked among the "gunmen's accomplices", Hajimurad Kamalov among them.

"Mind that you are at our gunpoint and all of you will be soon called to account for what you have done", the authors of the leaflets threatened the figurants of the list.

Kamalov himself who commented on the list then said that the list was made by persons who knew the situation in Dagestan well.

Kamalov's murder fell on the Day of Memory of the journalists who perished carrying out their professional duty.