Maksharip Aushev buried in Ingushetia

As reported by oppositionist Magomed Khazbiev, Maksharip Aushev, former owner of the website "Ingushetia.Org", was buried into his patrimonial cemetery in Surkhakhi village. According to his story, since morning, many people have gathered at the house of the victim.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 25 in the Federal Motorway "Kavkaz" Aushev was shelled by unidentified persons from a passing-by car. Maksharip died in situ. His cousin of 29, who was in the car with him, was brought to a hospital of the Chegem District with heavy wounds received as a result of shelling. Doctors of the Republic's Hospital in Nalchik already made five most complicated surgeries trying to save the young woman.

"Already in the morning many people rallied at Maksharip's house, his relatives, friends and acquaintances. Everyone was in grief. Now, we're on the way back from the cemetery, where we've buried Maksharip in Surkhakhi village - it's their patrimonial cemetery," said Mr Khazbiev as quoted by the "Gazeta.Ru".

As reported today by Vladimir Markin, official representative of the investigation, inspectors consider several versions of Maksharip Aushev's murder, including those related to commercial and public activities, and the version connected with 2007-2008 mass disorders in Nazran. In particular, it is not excluded that the murder could be committed "because of Maksharip Aushev's commercial activities" by persons "of criminal orientation with whom the casualty could have mutual relations."

According to Mr Markin, a version is also considered that the oppositionist could fall victim of the persons, "whom he had promised to stop criminal prosecution for participation in mass disorders in Nazran in December 2007 and in 2008."

According to his story, the murder could also be "a vengeance from relatives for Aushev's relations with his girlfriend Tauzela Dzeitova."

At the same time, Aushev's colleagues are sure that he was executed for his human rights activities, and that power agents were involved in the crime. Aushev soon was to speak to the Council of Europe on the situation in Ingushetia, as the "Kommersant" writes.

The "Interfax" reports, with reference to Mr Markin, that at the operative meeting of power agents held in Nalchik a detailed plan of investigation was developed. As already reported, Yuri Chaika, General Public Prosecutor of Russia, took the investigation of the murder under his personal supervision.

Law enforcement bodies of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) assert that traces of Aushev's murder should be looked for in Ingushetia. "Nobody knew Mr Aushev in Kabardino-Balkaria, his activity in no way touched our republic," said the local Ministry of Internal Affairs. "Someone has just used the KBR territory for committing this murder and diverting suspicions."

On October 25, at the end of the working day, President of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov visited Maksharip Aushev's family in Nazran, expressed his condolences and promised to strain his efforts to find the culprits.