Journalist Alishaev was killed by Wahhabites, investigation asserts

In the opinion of the investigation, Telman Alishaev's fight on Wahhabism was the main reason of the attempt on the TV reporter who died this night in the capital of Dagestan from received wounds.

The car of the journalist who worked for the "TV-Chirkey" Islamic TV Company was shelled on September 2 at about 8 p.m. in the Separatorny District of Makhachkala.

In confirmation of the version about involvement of Wahhabites in the incident, the "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" reports, with reference to a source in law enforcement bodies, that Telman Alishaev was one of the authors of the documentary "Ordinary Wahhabism" and an active opponent of this movement in Dagestan.

Also in the morning on September 2, unidentified persons in the capital of Dagestan shot dead Militia Major Zakaryaev.

To the question about a possible interrelation of these crimes, Mr Ahmedov answered: "According to operative information, such interrelation can exist. Vadim Butdaev is a suspect; however, it can be confirmed by operative and investigatory actions only."

In his turn, Vsevolod Bogdanov, Chairman of the Union of Journalists of Russia, believes that deaths of journalists in Northern Caucasus are related to the "fight of clans for power and control over finances" and evidence the total instability of power structures in the region.

In Mr Bogdanov's opinion, "those engaged in journalistic investigations, who call things with their proper names often fall victim."