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The relatives of leader of Dagestan YABLOKO and human rights
activist Farid Babayev murdered in 2007, expressed their concern
that the defendants had been ruining the case and that the
killers would get freedom soon. The key witness of the plaintiffs
who had seen the killer suddenly retracted his testimony.
On January 20, 2009, the Supreme Court of Dagestan ruled
out that Rasil Mamedrizayev, a citizen of Dagestan, was guilty
of murder and sentenced him to 16 years of imprisonment. The
second of the culprits Seferali Sefemerzoyev accused of complicity
in the murder was acquitted.
The plaintiffs appealed this decision in the Supreme Court
of the Russian Federation. The barrister of Mamedrizayev also
appealed the decision demanding acquittal for his client.
On June 4, 2009, the Supreme Court of Russia abrogated the
previous decision and send the case to the Supreme Court of
Dagestan to a new trial by a new composition of the court.
The only witness who gave testimony in the case under a fictitious
name of Telman Akayev had seen the murderer running from the
site of the crime with a gun in his hand. The witness memorized
the face of the killer and pointed at Mamedrizayev during
the investigation. Akayev confirmed his testimony at one of
the trials standing behind the screen. After that the barrister
of the accused Suleiman Azuyev threatened the witness stating
that he and his relatives are well-known to the defendants.
Despite multiple applications to the court the Investigation
Committee of the Public Prosecutor’s Office failed to provide
steadfast protection to the witness. The witness missed several
sessions of the court and later there emerged information
that he left for Uzbekistan together with his family.
In view of this his testimony given during the investigation
was read out loud during the session the court. A relative
of Akayev, a policeman, confirmed the testimony. This confirmation
was also attached to the case.
The relatives of Farid Babayev told that in their opinion
the choice of barrister (Ms. Miasiat Abasova) for witness
Akayev was very strange. The barristers has the same name
as the most vicious enemy of Farid Babayev – Kerimhan Abasov,
head of administration of Dokuzparinsly Distrcit. Initially
he and his son were suspects in the case. “The Abasovs is
a very rare surname in Dagestan,” relatives of Farid Baabyev
noted. They also saw the witness’ barrister Miasa Abayeva
communicate with the defendants.
Also, according to the family of Farid Babayev, it was not
by chance that during the last trial Public Prosecutor Gusein
Alilov who had been engaged in the case in all the courts
for two years suddenly turned out to be on holiday. The new
Public Prosecutor did not have time to learn the ten volumes
of the case: in two days after he was appointed he had to
participate in the process.
Judge Israfailov dismissed the head of the jury and appointed
a new one. Also he stated that he was going to finish the
process by the new year. The family of Farid Babayev join
all these events in one chain targeted at exemption of the
murderers from the liability.
“It is obvious for us that the authorities of Dagestan are
playing into the hands of the murderers and making everything
they can so that to release them. This is proved by the fact
that they did not ensure protection and safety of the witnesses,”
Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO’s leader, said. According to Mitrokhin,
huge efforts of the investigation that created a precedent
for those who implement political murders can be reduced to
nothing. Consequently, the killer would be released and would
continue receiving new orders, while his other colleagues
would get a signal that murders of public and political figures
may go unpunished, Mitrokhin noted.
Leader of Dagestan YABLOKO, number one in the election list
of the party in Dagestan, Farid Babayev was gunned in the
entrance of his block of flats on November 21, 2007, several
days prior to the State Duma election. Doctors fought for
his life for three days, but Farid died on November 24.
Farid Babayev was human rights activist, he defended constitutional
rights of the citizens of Dagestan investigating the case
of shooting of the rally of the residents of Dokuzparinsky
Distrcit which took place in 2006, he also abruptly criticized
the arbitrary actions of the local authorities protesting
against corruption, murders and kidnapping.
Farid has four children.
See also:
The Murder of
Farid Babayev
The
Russian Supreme Court overturns the ruling of a lower court
on the murder of the leader of the Dagestani branch of YABLOKO.
Press Release. June 4, 2009
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