On December 15, 2011, the founder of the Chernovik newspaper, Khadzhimurad Kamalov, was killed. He was shot in Makhachkala on the threshold of the editorial office, when he went out into the street and was about to get into a taxi.
In 2022, the Southern District Military Court sentenced the defendants in the Kamalov murder case. Former Deputy Prime Minister of Dagestan Shamil Isaev, who was identified as the mastermind of the crime, received 16 years in prison, the alleged perpetrators Murad Shuaibov, Magomed Mazamov and Magomed Abigasanov received 23, 24 and 16 years, respectively.
The investigation considered that Shamil Isaev decided to kill Khadzhimurad Kamalov because he was preventing him from pursuing a political career with his publications.
The brother of the deceased, Magdi Kamalov, is convinced that everyone except Abigasanov has nothing to do with the murder. The latter was the only one of the accused who knew Khadzhimurad by sight and was present at his place of work on the fateful day. In addition, defense witnesses reported alibis for the alleged perpetrators.
