Abduction triggers protest

Residents of the republic's Shali district are holding a mass protest action in front of the House of Government in Chechnya's capital.

About 1,000 people resident in Serzhen-Yurt, Shali district, demand that village administration head Shaid Shamayev detained and brought away to an unknown destination by officers of law enforcement or security agencies should be released.

Shamayev is reported to have been seized by officers of Chechnya's presidential security service last Saturday, 2 July. There is information the Serzhen-Yurt head of administration is accused of assisting rebels.

"To the best of our knowledge, Shaid Shamayev has absolutely groundlessly been accused of providing financial assistance to rebels. It is impossible to make up a more ridiculous and inconceivable accusation," a participant in the public meeting told Caucasian Knot. "He is known as a man of principles. Besides, shortly before his death Chechnya's leader Akhmat-hajji Kadyrov presented Shamayev with a personal Volga car. He was unlikely to encourage an associate of rebels though."

"Security service officers delivered Shamayev to the Internal Affairs Ministry. However, we do not know his exact whereabouts," says the interlocutor.

Participants in the action intend to insist on Shamayev's release. They say they are not going to leave until their demand is satisfied.

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