Relatives of suspected militants killed in Chechnya are prohibited to have commemoration ceremony

The families of the suspected members of illegal armed units killed last Saturday, July 25, in Urus-Martan district of Chechnya have been handed over the bodies but forbidden to conduct the ceremony of commemoration (tezet).

For reference, on the morning of July 25, officers of power authorities conducted a special operation on liquidating a group of militants in the village of Goity, Urus-Martan district, Chechnya. The fierce battle between the state forces and suspected members of the armed units who were blocked in a private house along Nekrasov Street in the village of Goity lasted for several hours. The state forces used heavy arms and were protected by armor.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has been informed at the MoIA that, in the course of the special operation, six members of the armed underground were killed, they were headed by Isa Izerkhanov, mid-level commander of militants. The identity of some of the victims has been established. Apart from Izerkhanov, residents of the republic Khasbulatov and Zakriyev were killed in Goity.

Meanwhile, local residents claim that, despite the fact that the bodies of the killed militants have been really handed over to their families, still, the power authorities prohibit them to conduct commemoration ceremonies.

"In effect, they want the victims to be just dug in the ground, rather than be buried in conformance with the Moslem laws and Chechen traditions. In my view, it is the worst derision and scoffing at people. Even the Russian military did not do this", said Ali, resident of Grozny, to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.