‘The only thing we were told by siloviks: the likelihood is that it’s the work of a gang of bandits’
‘Bandit’ version of the case on the disappearance of Hazrat Suleyman Zaripov and his fellow-traveller found new confirmations
On 19 February, the Prosecutor's Office of Tatarstan hosted a meeting on the coordination of the work of all law enforcement bodies engaged in the investigation of the disappearance ex-deputy mufti of Tatarstan Suleyman Zaripov and his fellow-traveller Sheikh Nadzhmeddin and in the hunt for them. The experts enquired by Realnoe Vremya are not inclined to refute any version: people in Tatarstan disappear for different reasons. There are simultaneous groups that search for Hazrat Suleyman – in Kazan and Saransk.
Artyom Khokhorin: 'Why rubbish is to be commented?'
There are no new data about the Muslim scholars who disappeared en route to Kazan on 7 February. The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tatarstan Artyom Khokhorin confirmed this information to Realnoe Vremya. He noted that operatives visited Ulyanovsk and Nizhny Novgorod in search for any information. Earlier it had been told about searches in Chuvashia and Mordovia. When a journalist asked why no silovik doesn't refute the version of the abduction by intelligence agencies, the Minister stated:
'Why rubbish is to be commented? The reason might be very simple. We don't exclude it… Just today we have opened a murder case on one lost man. He was from Leninogorsk and worked in a firm of Cheremshan. He was in Yelabuga because of his work. On 10 November, he went to Chelny to rest. There is evidence that he was seen on 29 November. On 1 December, his phone was found. There are different versions too.'
'Bandits are close to the place where there is a scent of money'
In turn, the secretary of the Security Council of Tatarstan Ayrat Shafigullin thinks that the disappearance of the Muslim scholars has a financial scent. According to him, the Security Council received information that the wanted together with the imam person, a representative of an Islamic charity foundation, is a supporter of not very clean ideas. Ayrat Shafigullin could not answer the question why this fact was not estimated earlier. He also did not inform how much Tatarstan mosques were built due to the financial participation of the foundation that was represented by Sheikh Nadzhmeddin. He just noted that their quantity is smaller compared with Tyumen Oblast, where 26 mosques were erected.
'In my opinion, he is not in Tatarstan. It is probable that he is in neighbouring regions – in Ulyanovsk Oblast, Mordovia,' tells the deputy chairman of the Law and Order Committee of Tatarstan and ex-deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tatarstan Rafil Nugumanov. 'The version of bandits is possible. It was mentioned on the Internet that this guest helps in the construction of mosques. It means that he had money, and this time, he might come here with money. Bandits are close to the place where there is a scent of money. We will know whether we were right when they are found. But if somebody thinks that the investigation's work is done in a slipshod manner, it is wrong!'
It should be reminded that the version according to which Hazrat Suleyman Zaripov and his fellow-traveller, who disappeared on 7 February, might be kept by criminals in Saransk got some evidence two days ago. However, the Investigative Committee had not excluded the possibility that the men were dead.
'The only thing we were told by siloviks is that the likelihood is that it's the work of a gang of bandits,' said Gumar Ganiev, the son-in-law of Hazrat Suleyman, to Realnoe Vremya. 'This version is elaborated. Undoubtedly, it was not just a hold-up on the street, it was organized because they were tracked in the hotel, and it has been established. It is good that the investigation has a direction.'
'I think our authority does not need such fame…'
Two groups, in Kazan and Saransk, continue acting simultaneously. According to Ganiev, there is a call centre in the group in Kazan, calls are received: 'If there is information, volunteers immediately take it into account. I haven't visited the group in Mordovia, we are not invited there. But I know the work is carried out too'.
As Hazrat Mansur, the head of the group in Al-Mardjani Mosque in Kazan, told, volunteers continue working but there still is no news.
'Surveillance camera records are watched – their volume is quite big. The Investigative Committee enquires all people who knew Nadzhmeddin. He has been working here for a long time: he has visited Tatarstan since the 90s and could acquaint with many people for this time. <...> We do our best and help. We have not thrown our hands in, we still hope and wait for Hazrat Suleyman to appear. The volunteers are working in groups. If the Investigative Committee asks, we go. They keep a round-the-clock vigil in mosques, in Petrovsky settlement in Al-Mardjani Mosque to be ready to come if it is necessary. We are sitting and waiting like in a waiting room. As for the foundation, the situation slightly has changed, the sum of the donations has not increased though the account is still active. There is news, undoubtedly, but the Investigative Committee asked not to spread it because it might impede the investigation. All in all a criminal case was opened.'
In Rafil Nugumanov's opinion, the disappearance of the Muslim scholars has an impact on the image of not only law enforcement bodies but also the country in general. 'Russia might be blamed for keeping the Islamic scholars without searching for them. I think our authority does not need such fame… Any lost citizen would be looked for. We will find them, Allah willing…'