Malik Akhmedilov
Encyclopedia
Malik Akhmedilov was a Russia
n investigative journalist based in the southern Republic of Dagestan.
Akhmedilov was a leading investigative correspondent
for the Avar language
daily newspaper, Hakikat (ХIакъикъат, also transliterated as Khakikat) which translates to "The Truth" in English
. He also worked as the editor in chief
of the political monthly, Sogratl (Согратль), which translates as "Mountain Village". The Sogratl focuses on political issues and civics
.
Akhmedilov was known for his reports on several unsolved assassinations of officials in Dagestan. In columns in Hakikat, Akhmedilov heavily criticized Russian federal forces and local law enforcement for curbing religious and political freedom under the guise of an "anti-extremism" campaign.
Akhmedilov was awarded an Internationale Parliaments-Stipendium Fellowship http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/europa_internationales/internat_austausch/ips/index.html through the German Parliament in 2006 and served as an Aide in the office of Dr. Margrit Wetzel (SPD
).
Malik Akhmedilov was found shot to death in a car on the edge of the Dagestani capital, Makhachkala, on August 11, 2009. He was 33 years old at the time of his murder. Police believe that Akhmedilov was shot at close range with a pistol
, although independent sources have claimed he was shot with a Winchester Rifle
According to the same source, eyewitnesses assert that the shots were made by unknown persons who got out of a "Zhiguli-10" model car without number plates and tinted glasses. They have also stated that had seen the car for several days near the journalist's house.
The killing of Akhmedilov comes after a string of murders of reporters and journalists in Dagestan including that of television journalist Abdulla Alishayev
who was assassinated in September 2008. and two more Dagestani journalists who were killed in March 2009.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n investigative journalist based in the southern Republic of Dagestan.
Akhmedilov was a leading investigative correspondent
Correspondent
A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is a journalist or commentator, or more general speaking, an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, location. A foreign correspondent is stationed in a foreign...
for the Avar language
Avar language
The modern Avar language belongs to the Avar–Andic group of the Northeast Caucasian language family....
daily newspaper, Hakikat (ХIакъикъат, also transliterated as Khakikat) which translates to "The Truth" in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. He also worked as the editor in chief
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of the political monthly, Sogratl (Согратль), which translates as "Mountain Village". The Sogratl focuses on political issues and civics
Civics
Civics is the study of rights and duties of citizenship. In other words, it is the study of government with attention to the role of citizens ― as opposed to external factors ― in the operation and oversight of government....
.
Akhmedilov was known for his reports on several unsolved assassinations of officials in Dagestan. In columns in Hakikat, Akhmedilov heavily criticized Russian federal forces and local law enforcement for curbing religious and political freedom under the guise of an "anti-extremism" campaign.
Akhmedilov was awarded an Internationale Parliaments-Stipendium Fellowship http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/europa_internationales/internat_austausch/ips/index.html through the German Parliament in 2006 and served as an Aide in the office of Dr. Margrit Wetzel (SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
).
Malik Akhmedilov was found shot to death in a car on the edge of the Dagestani capital, Makhachkala, on August 11, 2009. He was 33 years old at the time of his murder. Police believe that Akhmedilov was shot at close range with a pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
, although independent sources have claimed he was shot with a Winchester Rifle
Winchester rifle
In common usage, Winchester rifle usually means any of the lever-action rifles manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, though the company has also manufactured many rifles of other action types...
According to the same source, eyewitnesses assert that the shots were made by unknown persons who got out of a "Zhiguli-10" model car without number plates and tinted glasses. They have also stated that had seen the car for several days near the journalist's house.
The killing of Akhmedilov comes after a string of murders of reporters and journalists in Dagestan including that of television journalist Abdulla Alishayev
Abdulla Alishayev
Abdulla Telman Alishayev was a Russian Dagestani journalist and writer. Alishayev was the television host of a popular mainstream Islamic television station in the Republic of Dagestan, a multi-ethnic Russian republic within the Caucasus region.Alishayev hosted a popular Islamic themed television...
who was assassinated in September 2008. and two more Dagestani journalists who were killed in March 2009.