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On Alexander Bastrykin’s orders criminal case of Chernovik newspaper founder’s murder sent to further investigation to Central Investigative Department for North Caucasus Federal district

Because of appeals from State Duma deputies Alexander Bastrykin has ordered to pass the criminal case over the murder of Chernovik newspaper founder Gadzhimurat Kamalov to be further investigated by the Central Investigative Department for North Caucasus Federal district.

As it was reported earlier, on 15 December 2011, at 11:55 p.m. the Chernovik’s founder and director of “Svoboda Slova” publishing house Gadzhimurat Kamalov was shot by an unknown in front of the building of “Sogratl” firm. Kamalov died of many gunshot wounds on the way to the hospital. The investigative bodies of the Russian Investigative Committee for the Republic of Dagestan have opened a criminal case over the signs of the crimes under part 1 of article 105 (murder) and part 1 of article 222 of the RF Criminal Code (illegal acquisition and storage of firearms).

The investigators consider several versions of the crime. One of the most possible is that Kamalov’s assassination is connected with his professional activity. At present a large number of investigation operations have been carried out, all persons mentioned in Chernovik’s critical articles are being checked on involvement in the crime, about 100 witnesses have been identified and questions, the testimonies have been checked on the spot, 13 examinations have been carried out, all necessary forensic enquiries have been appointed. Other investigation and search operations are underway to identify the persons involved on the crime. The leadership of the Russian Investigative Committee controls the investigation.