The trial of Dalgatov's death will begin anew due to the judge's resignation.
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Since the powers of Judge Patimat Makhatilova of the Sovietsky District Court of Makhachkala were terminated following the collapse of an illegally constructed structure during the flood, the trial of Kurban Dalgatov, who died in a police station, will begin anew and may be delayed.
As "Caucasian Knot" reported, three years after the death of Kurban Dalgatov, most of the defendants have not been sentenced, with five of them sent to the SVO. Dalgatov's relatives were outraged by the lengthy investigation, despite officials' statements that the perpetrators would be punished. On March 15, three defendants were questioned; they deny guilt. On April 10, the Qualification Collegium of Judges of Dagestan approved the resignation of Judge Patimat Makhatilova, who legalized an unauthorized extension to a high-rise building that collapsed during the flood. Makhatilova is known for her work on Dalgatov's murder case.
On January 20, 2023, before the arrest of 35-year-old Kurban Dalgatov, a conflict broke out on the street between two men. According to police, one of them shot his opponent and fled with Dalgatov's help. Kurban Dalgatov was found and detained. His condition worsened at the police station. He was given first aid and taken to the hospital, but doctors pronounced him dead. His family stated that Dalgatov died of asphyxiation, which occurred after he was "electrically shocked in the heart." The man sustained injuries before his death, the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed.
The trial of Kurban Dalgatov will begin anew due to the termination of Judge Patimat Makhatilova's mandate, the "Kod Dagestantsev" Telegram channel reports, citing lawyer Madina Aliyeva.
According to her, "in accordance with the requirements of the procedural code, when the presiding judge resigns, a new one is appointed, who will begin the judicial investigation anew."
A source close to the lawyer representing the Dalgatov family confirmed to a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on April 13 that the case will be retried. "This will delay the case for at least several months, possibly even a year," the source emphasized.
He also reported that it is currently unknown if any decisions previously made by Makhatilova have been overturned.
Lawyer Timur Filippov noted that the situation with a judge's withdrawal from a trial (including due to resignation) is directly regulated by procedural law. "The trial must be conducted in compliance with the principle of immediacy; the judge is obliged to personally examine the evidence. This means that if a judge is replaced (including upon their resignation), the trial, as a rule, begins anew, since the new judge did not participate in the examination of the evidence and cannot make a decision based solely on the minutes," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
Speaking about Judge Makhatilova's decisions already made, Filippov emphasized that the mere fact of a judge's resignation, regardless of the reason, does not automatically invalidate them. "The law does not provide for a mechanism for reviewing judicial decisions solely in connection with a judge's subsequent resignation. The overturning of such decisions is possible only in the prescribed manner through appeal in accordance with the procedure established by law. In this case, it is not the judge's personality or the circumstances of his departure that are subject to review, but the legality and validity of a specific judicial decision," he concluded.
There are three victims in the case: in addition to Dalgatov, two of his acquaintances were detained and also tortured. On July 7, the victim, Bulat Atayev, testified in court about how he was tortured and how he heard Dalgatov's screams.
On December 9, 2024, the court sentenced Makhachkala police officer Islam Atavov to 7.5 years in prison, finding him guilty in the death of Kurban Dalgatov. Dalgatov's family lawyer, Madina Aliyeva, appealed the verdict, but the Supreme Court of Dagestan upheld it. This decision did not satisfy the victims, who announced their intention to file a cassation appeal. At a hearing in December 2025, two defendants testified, accusing their former colleague, Islam Atavov, of committing the crime. The cassation court upheld the verdict.
In July 2024, the investigation into the case of 11 employees of the Sovetsky District Police Department of Makhachkala, accused in the death of Dalgatov, was completed. The criminal cases of two other police officers who entered into plea bargains with investigators – Islam Atavov and Marat Babayev – were separated into separate proceedings. Neither defendant pleaded guilty. In November 2024, the court granted a request to release Marat Babayev to the military operation zone in Ukraine. Imran Rustamov and Adis Isakov made similar requests. In March, the Supreme Court of Dagestan rejected the appeal against sending Imran Rustamov to the special military operation zone.
On July 9, 2024, Makhachkala resident Akhmed Dzhabrailov died in the same police station after being detained for disturbing the peace. A forensic examination confirmed the relatives' theory that Dzhabrailov died of asphyxiation. Investigators believe one of the security officers beat Dzhabrailov, used a stun gun on him, and crushed him with his weight, resulting in his death. By September 2024, three police officers had been detained in connection with Dzhabrailov's death. A fourth suspect was only detained in July 2025 thanks to the persistence of Dzhabrailov's relatives, who demanded the officer's arrest. They believe investigators are trying to cover up the case.
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Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/422437



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