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Russian Federation: ICJ condemns killing of a judge in Dagestan | CIJL-ICJ

Judge Shapiyev

The ICJ today expressed grave concern over the shooting of a Supreme Court judge of Dagestan and his son.

The ICJ calls on the federal and local authorities to ensure prompt, independent, impartial and thorough investigation of the shooting of Judge Mukhtar Shapiyev (photo) and his son.

Those reasonably suspected of responsibility for this crime should be identified and brought to justice in fair and transparent proceedings, where the rights of all the parties, including the victims and the accused are respected.

The ICJ recalls that Mukhtar Shapiyev is the third judge to be killed in Dagestan this year.

On 15 January, Magomed Magomedov, a Supreme Court judge of Dagestan, was shot and died as a result of the attack and, on 9 March, federal judge Akhmed Radzhabov, was shot to death near his house.

“When judges’ security is not guaranteed, and when they face a real and constant risk to their lives, the justice system and the very rule of law are undermined,” Temur Shakirov, Legal Adviser of the ICJ Europe Programme, said. “The UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary clarify that it is the obligation of the State to ensure that those who are entrusted with the power to take judicial decisions are effectively protected.”

Reports indicate that Mukhtar Shapiyev and his son, Kamil Shapiyev, were shot at by at least two persons near their home in the capital Makhachkala at about 20:45 on Wednesday 25 September. Both victims later died in hospital.

Judge Shapiyev previously worked as the Prosecutor of one of the districts in Dagestan. In January 2012, he was appointed as a Supreme Court judge of Dagestan and worked in the collegium on civil cases.

Urgent measures, which the ICJ calls for to guarantee that the security of judges in Dagestan is effectively protected, include ensuring effective security against attempts on their lives and lives of their family members.

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