Twelve years since murder of Dagestani journalist Khadjimurad Kamalov

Today marks 12 years since the murder of Khadjimurad Kamalov, the founder of the Dagestani "Chernovik" (Draft) outlet. He was killed on a symbolic date – the Remembrance Day of Perished Journalists.

Kamalov was engaged in investigative journalism, including on people disappearances; he wrote articles criticizing Dagestani authorities.

Let us remind you that in July 2009, in an interview with the "Caucasian Knot", Khadjimurad Kamalov noted that the situation destabilization in Dagestan was caused by "an extremely high concentration of power in the hands of the former Minister of Internal Affairs" Adilgerei Magomedtagirov. The situation in the republic will improve if violence against dissidents stops, Kamalov then stated.

The investigation into Kamalov's murder was completed by September 2020. Shamil Isaev, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Dagestan, was named as the customer of the murder.

Three other natives of Dagestan were accused of organizing and committing the murder, namely, Murad Shuaibov, Magomed Khazamov and Magomed Abigasanov. Isaev and Abigasanov were sentenced to 16 years of freedom deprivation each; Shuaibov – to 23 years, and Khazamov – to 24 years. The editorial board of the "Chernovik" and Magdi Kamalov, Khadjimurad's brother and the present publisher of the "Chernovik", did not agree with the court's conclusions. Magdi Kamalov believes that the investigation did not listen to his arguments, and the case was allowed to proceed only with the goal of imprisoning Isaev. According to the editorial staff, the murder of Khadjimurad has not been solved.