Resonance of Gakaev's murder accelerates families' reconciliation

The reconciliation of Abdurakhim Gakaev's relatives with the killer's family took place without any coercion; the apology is not a disgrace to the family and is usually accepted; and the promise of renouncing blood feud cannot be broken, experts on the Caucasus have indicated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that relatives of Turpal-Ali Shamurzaev, accused of killing the Mullah, Abdurakhim Gakaev, had stated that they were disgraced by his actions. The reconciliation was held in Kadi-Yurt village.

There is no reason to believe that the apology of killer's relatives and the families' reconciliation were made under duress, Akhmet Yarlykapov, an expert on the Caucasus, has noted.

Ruslan Kutaev, the President of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, agrees with him. "Relatives asked for forgiveness for the action of their family member. The suffered party has accepted the apology and forgave them. This is part of Chechen traditions ... It is treated as courage when relatives, showing respect for the victims, apologize," he believes.

Once the apology has been accepted, the blood feud is already ruled out, since the procedure is conducted with account of Islamic legal norms, Mr Kutaev has emphasized. "Even if someone from this family decides to declare the blood feud, he will be condemned by his own relatives for breaking the word that was given by the family elders," he has concluded.

The great publicity left no opportunity for the Gakaevs to reject the request of the killer's relatives, Svetlana Gannushkina*, the head of the "Civic Assistance" Committee*, has stated. In her opinion, it will be difficult for the killer to ensure a full defence in court.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that several months before committing the murder, the killer had stated in his video appeal about his struggle with sorcerers, and asked to bring this appeal to Ramzan Kadyrov. Human rights defenders have noted that the alleged killer looked like an unhealthy person; and his crime was caused by the general atmosphere of cruelty reigning in Chechnya.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.