New details about the assassination of three Chechen asylum seekers in Istanbul continue to appear in Turkish media.

According to the reports, one of the victims, Berg-Khazh Musaev (aka Emir Khamzat, former commander for Sunzha district) was the new representative of Dokka Umarov, head of the so-called Caucasus Emirate, in Turkey. He had arrived in Turkey around one and half years ago. Two other victims were also former fighters and they had arrived in Turkey about one year ago.

After the assassinations, Turkish police watched video from the crime scene and airports. The assailant was identified, however, his name and his nationality were not released. It was learned that the hitman arrived in Turkey on September 2, 2011 and stayed in a hotel in Istanbul’s Aksaray district. He left the hotel on the day of the assassination early in the morning and didn’t return. The authorities explained that there is no record of the hitman leaving Turkey. It was explained that the black car which was used in the assassination is a rented Ford Mondeo and the abandoned vehicle was found in Bakirkoy, Istanbul. On the other hand, the National Intelligence Agency (MIT) belives that the hitman is a Russian spy.

Istanbul based humanitarian organizations IMKANDER and OZGURDER organized a press conference with the participation of the wives of the victims Saturday, September 17 at the Topkapi Eresin Hotel in Istanbul.

“Russia, which has already killed more than 250 thousand civilians in Chechnya, continues to carry out its murders in the world’s different parts. Russian intelligence and their hitmen assasinated Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, 2nd President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, in 2004 in Qatar. In 2009, they murdered Umar Israilov with similar methods in Austria. Earlier two other Chechen commanders were murdered by Russian intelligence. After the latest assassinations, we are wondering about the attitude of Turkish security powers. The silence of Turkish authorities cannot be accepted nor the public opinion against our Chechen brothers who were forced to settle in Turkey and face this brutality. The Turkish government must immediately take action against the assassinations of Chechen asylum seekers in Turkey and bring those responsible for these murders, which Russia is behind, accountable,” said Murat Ozer, chairman of IMKANDER.

“If the government would have taken on its responsibilities in two earlier assassinations against Chechen asylum seekers in Turkey, if they had acted seriously against Russia which is behind these murders, yesterday’s murders wouldn’t have happened. I think that if the authorities continue their silence this time too, then this bloodbath will continue. This is, what happened here, clearly state terrorism,” said Ridvan Kaya, head of OZGURDER.

“After the assassination of my husband, the police came to our flat yesterday. They distrupted everything. Their attitude towards us was strange, like we are murderers. But if they would do the same to real murderers, then this incident wouldn’t be happen. The killers walk around freely and assassinate people in broad daylight,” said Shakheda, wife of Berg-Khazh Musaev (aka Emir Khamzat).

“Put yourself in our shoes. Try to understand our feelings. The killers mustn’t stay unpunished. At least one of them must be found and pay the penalty. The Turkish government must protect us. The police searched our flat, like the killer lives there. They treated us terribly. Even though I am a woman, they treated us very bad. I am 23 years old and I have a 6 month old daughter. When I arrived in Turkey, I was thinking I am in a Muslim country and I will live in safety. I had very big dreams but nobody looks after us,” said Marika, wife of Zaurbek Amriev.

Funerals for the victims will be held after zuhur prayer at the Fatih Mosque in Istanbul on September 18.

*Text was written by Waynakh Online and edited by Michael Capobianco