Ingushetia: relatives of Chapanov killed by power agents seek help from human rights activists

The relatives of Yusup Chapanov, who was killed in the course of a special operation in Nazran on February 1 on suspicion of taking part in a number of terror acts in the territory of Ingushetia, are confident of his innocence and are going to strive for thorough investigation into this incident.

Under the version of law enforcement bodies, Yusup Chapanov, 21, a resident of the city of Nazran, was involved in a series of terror acts committed in the territory of Ingushetia and "was liquidated at rendering armed resistance" during a special operation.

A criminal case was initiated on this fact by the Investigatory Department for the Republic of Ingushetia of the Investigatory Committee under the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation under Article 317 ("Encroachment on life of an employee of a law enforcement body") and Article 222 ("Illegal purchase, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of firearms, basic parts thereof, ammunition and explosives substances and devices") of the RF Criminal Code.

The relatives of the victim assert that the young man was not registered as searched and had never been brought to criminal responsibility. He was a student at the economic department of the Economy and Law Institute. Together with his two brothers he worked as security at the "Berkat" furniture store.

On the same day, Jusup's elder brother Bashir Chapanov filed an application to the Republic's Prosecutor's Office. He has also addressed his appeal for assistance in revealing the persons involved in his brother's murder to the Office of the HRC "Memorial" in Nazran.

"We were approached by the senior brother of the casualty - Bashir Chapanov, who told us some of the details of the incident. According to his story, it took place at about 1 p.m. in Bazorkin Avenue in Nazran. Yusup was on his way back from the mosque after Friday pray. Near the monument to World War II participants, he was called by some armed people from inside a steel-colour VAZ passenger car. When he turned back, the unknown persons shot him dead from their sub-machine guns. The eyewitnesses of the incident told Bashir about it," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the HRC "Memorial".