Today, our editorial board received an e-mail from the widow of slain Chechen refugee Umar Israilov, related to news published about her husband.

Here is the message:

I, the widow of Umar Israilov, who was killed by Kadyrov’s hit men on January 13, 2009, would like to refute some lies which have spread on the internet.

Some of the internet sources claim that my husband voluntarily joined the Russian invaders and their puppets in the occupied Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Such kinds of accusations have no real basis, as well as the allegations that he was an informant for the Austrian secret police. It is true that he had a pistol, but he bought it from the black market. A criminal case over this issue still continues and I was repeatedly interrogated by Austrian law enforcement agencies.

In brief, I am asking you not to believe these kinds of unjustified accusations about my late husband.

Best Regards,

Malika Israilova (Sagieva)
widow of Umar

04.12.2010

*Text was translated by Waynakh Online from th original letter and edited by Michael Capobianco