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A court has delivered a life sentence in absentia to Sagid Murtazaliev, a former head of Dagestan's pension fund and a celebrated Olympic wrestling champion from the 2000 Sydney Games. He was convicted of organizing contract killings and financing terrorist organizations.

Organized Killings and Political Ambitions

According to the court's press service, the investigation linked Murtazaliev to several crimes that occurred over a decade ago. Evidence presented suggests that in 2010, while leading the republic's pension fund, Murtazaliev ordered the assassinations of two officials: the deputy head of the Dagestan Ministry of Internal Affairs' Anti-Extremism Center and the deputy mayor of Kizlyar city.

The court has mandated that Murtazaliev serve his sentence in a strict regime colony and pay a substantial fine. Known in some circles by the nickname "Ashkarakulak," Murtazaliev was a prominent figure in Dagestan during the 2000s. His athletic achievements, including an Olympic gold medal and world and European championship titles, paved the way for a significant political career, rising from head of the Kizlyar district to lead one of the republic's largest financial institutions.

Funding Radical Groups

A second serious charge involves the financing of radical groups. Investigations and reports from "Kommersant" newspaper indicate that in 2009, an illegal armed group aiming to establish an Islamic state in the North Caucasus was active. Murtazaliev, then the head of the Kizlyar district, reportedly sought to leverage this group for his own purposes. In the autumn of 2009, he provided 2.7 million rubles to a member of this group.

Where is the Former Pension Fund Head?

Law enforcement agencies have been unable to apprehend Murtazaliev. In 2015, as authorities initiated extensive searches and detained his alleged accomplices, Murtazaliev fled Russia. He was subsequently placed on an international wanted list and arrested in absentia that same year. Unconfirmed reports suggest he may have been hiding in Middle Eastern countries or the UAE, potentially owning luxury real estate. His state awards, including the Order of Honor, may be revoked by the court's decision.

This information was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.