The Russian President received the head of the family, Raisa Tashukhadzhiyeva, her 14-year-old son Islam and two daughters, Zalina and Milana. He presented Raisa Tashukhadzhiyeva with the Hero of Russia Star, the decoration posthumously conferred on her elder son Magomed for his valour and courage. The President decorated the younger brother Islam with the Order of Valour for the courage he displayed in a clash with armed criminals.
The President gave flowers to the Tashukhadzhiyevs and talked with the family. Boris Gryzlov, the Minister of Internal Affairs, was present during the talk.
Before the meeting ended, Mr Putin and the Tashukhadzhiyev family were joined by Muslim spiritual leaders Ravil Gainutdin, Talgat Tadzhuddin and Magomed Albogachiyev. Recalling the tragedy in the Tashukhadzhiyev family, the President said he had decided on a meeting in such a format so that the family could have the support not only from the government, but also from spiritual leaders.
Fifteen-year-old Magomed Tashukhadzhiyev was killed by Magomed Tsagarayev, a militant chieftain, in Grozny last summer. On the night of July 23, Tsagarayev and his men broke into the home of the Chechen policeman, First Lieutenant Saidi Tashukhadzhiyev. They killed Saidi and his guest, Police Captain Rasul Khabuseyev. Magomed resisted the attackers, seized his father’s assault rifle and shot Tsagarayev and his accomplice, Andi Dashayev. He was heavily wounded and later died in hospital.
Tsagarayev was a prominent militant and a trusted agent of the terrorist and mercenary Khattab. According to special services, Tsagarayev controlled 90% of all the small terrorist groups in the foothills of Chechnya and was personally implicated in the murder of more than a hundred people.