Massacre in Surgut re-raises problem on Muslims' radicalization

Crimes similar to an attack on passers-by in Surgut can be repeated in any city in Russia. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" by Denis Sokolov, who explained the causes of the tragedy and the role in it of the terrorist "Islamic State" (IS) banned in Russia. Journalist Orkhan Djemal does not see direct relation between the attacker and the Dagestani armed underground.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the IS published a video of 19-year-old Arthur Gadjiev swearing allegiance to the organization. On August 19, the man wounded seven persons with a knife.

According to Denis Sokolov, the chief of the RAMCOM Centre for Social and Economic Research of Regions, people from Northern Caucasus are residents of Siberian cities in the second generation. They grew up apart from their communities, but they still maintain contacts with Dagestan.

The murder of the imam in Novy Urengoy and the demolition of a local mosque in April 2015 became factors to radicalize the Islamic environment, the expert believes.

According to him, in Dagestan, Arthur Gadjiev was included in "the police prevention registration list for extremism."

Orkhan Djemal, a Forbes journalist, believes only investigators can prove the Arthur Gadjiev's relation to with the armed underground in Dagestan.

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