Inquiry into case of Rostov Imam detained in Dagestan is on

Vyacheslav Gasanov, press secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Dagestan, has confirmed the information that Nail Bikmaev, Imam of the Jami (Cathedral Mosque) of Rostov-on-Don, was detained in the Kirov District of Makhachkala on January 5.

"He's fully repented, understood his mistake and knows he made a sideslip. What I like most about him is the fact that he is very much concerned of his father. Now all the three detainees are under investigation. A Makarov pistol with a silencer was found on Bikmaev," said Gasanov.

According to his story, Bikmaev was misled about what happens in Dagestan:

"He thought one way, and when he came he saw something quite different. For example, it was a great surprise for him, when he saw that militiamen are praying here. Employees of the isolation facility, where he was kept, woke him for namaz. There is no clock in the cell, so, they warned him about the time for prayer."

According to the source, the detainee came to Dagestan for religious work, possibly, among militants, but he was detained in time. Bikmaev is charged of firearm possession.

A call to the Rostov Jami was answered by an employee, who refused to name herself. She said that the mosque is popular; and up to five thousand believers come to holiday prayers. According to her story, Mufti Dzhafar Bikmaev is away on business, but she could not give his coordinates. She abstained from further comments.

The Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of the Rostov Region also refused to comment on the situation with Bikmaev.

Further inquiry in relation to Bikmaev is conducted by the Investigatory Committee, which also refrained from any detailed comments on Bikmaev's matters.

Some of the parishioners of the Mosque, natives of Chechnya, who live in Rostov for long and attend the mosque, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that they know Bikmaev and respect him. They explain his detention in Dagestan with firearms and accusations by law enforcers' prejudiced attitude.

Let us remind you that on December 21, 2010, Dzhafar Bikmaev, Chairman of the SAM of South of Russia, addressed the militia on disappearance of his son - Nail Bikmaev. He said that his son left home after 11:00 p.m. on December 19, leaving the keys and mobile phone at home, and taking his SIM-card and two shirts with him.

At night on January 7, Nail Bikmaev was detained in Makhachkala as a member of an armed group. At his personal search operative agents found on him and confiscated a Makarov pistol with a silencer and a magazine loaded with three 9 mm rounds.