19:37, 12 July 2016

Imam Makhmud Velitov placed under house arrest

Makhmud Velitov, the Imam of the mosque "Yardyam" in Moscow, has been placed by the court under house arrest until August 27. Investigators treat the Imam's statements concerning Abdulla Gappaev, a religious figure, killed in Kizlyar, as a public justification of terrorism.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Makhmud Velitov was detained on July 11. According to the defence, law enforcers suggest that the statements, made by Makhmud Velitov concerning Abdulla Gappaev during an interview and a sermon, justified terrorism. One of the visitors to the mosque "Yardyam" stated that Makhmud Velitov only "mentioned the killed religious figure in positive." Makhmud Velitov pleaded partially guilty.

Abdulla Gappaev was shot and killed at night of September 16, 2013. According to his friends, he received threats from law enforcers and was summoned to the police station after the incident with a wedding cortege with Islamic flags which occurred in Kizlyar on April 27, 2013. Eyewitnesses then stated that law enforcers beat people involved in the wedding party ceremony, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reported on the detention of members of an extremist organization.

After the detention of the Imam, his house and the mosque were searched, the "TASS" reports.

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