28 February 2008, 19:15
Supreme Court of Dagestan acquits a suspect accused of murdering Imam
The Supreme Court of the Republic of Dagestan has acquitted Sultan Arslangereev, who was accused of murdering Dagir Kachaev, Imam of the mosque, on February 22, 2007, in Makhachkala.
Besides, Sultan Arslangereev was completely acquitted from any charges of participating in a criminal community and an illegal armed formation, and of illegal storage and bearing of arms. After the court's verdict, Sultan Arslangereev was released from custody right in the courtroom.
The "Caucasian Knot" has already informed that the prosecution insisted that Sultan Arslangereev, who was professing Wahhabism, a radical Islamic faith, was dissatisfied with Dagir Kachaev, Imam of one of Makhachkala mosques, and made a decision to kill him.
According to Sergey Kvasov, defendant's advocate, the prosecution had a number of contradictions. Thus, the Arslangereev's evidence of confession states that he was bearing his pistol in the bosom, while the examination detected particles of the weapon on his trousers, behind the belt. Besides, the pistol, from which Arslangereev was shooting, was not presented to the court, and the witnesses failed to appear for evidencing.
Author: Oleg Ionov, CK correspondent
