Ibrahim Omarov, the uncle of Adil and Osman Omarov, described hearing about his nephews' alleged armed attack on civilian and religious facilities in Dagestan, in footage from Tuesday.
"Recent events have shown that what they have done is terrorism, they are terrorists. I cannot say otherwise, no matter if they are my nephews or anyone else. This is not human behaviour, this is not okay," Omarov said.
According to him, none of the family members could have imagined that the brothers could commit such a crime.
"Ali Zakarigaev (another alleged attacker) is one of my eldest nephews, he is about 36 years old. He is a father of four," said the man. "Recently, a few months ago, his last child was born. [Knowing that] he has such a little baby, how could we even think, no one could think, that this man would leave his family in such a state and do these things."
Omarov also apologised to the victims' families, saying his own family would now live 'with our heads down'.
A series of deadly attacks on churches, synagogues and police posts rocked the Muslim majority Republic of Dagestan’s Makhachkala and Derbent on Sunday evening, June 23. At the time of publication, around 20 people were confirmed dead, many of them police officers, and dozens taken to hospital.
The National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) announced on Monday that five militants had been killed following a counter-terror operation.
The Russian Investigative Committee for the Republic of Dagestan opened criminal cases into the attacks as possible 'terrorist acts'.
Presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov ruled out a return to the kind of attacks seen in the 2000s, saying that 'Russia is different now'. He also added that President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to all those who had lost loved ones.
Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov described the incident in his Telegram channel as 'a despicable provocation and an attempt to bring discord between religions'.
'What they have done is terrorism' - Uncle of Dagestan gunmen on their deadly attack in Russia's North Caucasus *EXCLUSIVE*
Ibrahim Omarov, the uncle of Adil and Osman Omarov, described hearing about his nephews' alleged armed attack on civilian and religious facilities in Dagestan, in footage from Tuesday.
"Recent events have shown that what they have done is terrorism, they are terrorists. I cannot say otherwise, no matter if they are my nephews or anyone else. This is not human behaviour, this is not okay," Omarov said.
According to him, none of the family members could have imagined that the brothers could commit such a crime.
"Ali Zakarigaev (another alleged attacker) is one of my eldest nephews, he is about 36 years old. He is a father of four," said the man. "Recently, a few months ago, his last child was born. [Knowing that] he has such a little baby, how could we even think, no one could think, that this man would leave his family in such a state and do these things."
Omarov also apologised to the victims' families, saying his own family would now live 'with our heads down'.
A series of deadly attacks on churches, synagogues and police posts rocked the Muslim majority Republic of Dagestan’s Makhachkala and Derbent on Sunday evening, June 23. At the time of publication, around 20 people were confirmed dead, many of them police officers, and dozens taken to hospital.
The National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) announced on Monday that five militants had been killed following a counter-terror operation.
The Russian Investigative Committee for the Republic of Dagestan opened criminal cases into the attacks as possible 'terrorist acts'.
Presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov ruled out a return to the kind of attacks seen in the 2000s, saying that 'Russia is different now'. He also added that President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to all those who had lost loved ones.
Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov described the incident in his Telegram channel as 'a despicable provocation and an attempt to bring discord between religions'.
Ibrahim Omarov, the uncle of Adil and Osman Omarov, described hearing about his nephews' alleged armed attack on civilian and religious facilities in Dagestan, in footage from Tuesday.
"Recent events have shown that what they have done is terrorism, they are terrorists. I cannot say otherwise, no matter if they are my nephews or anyone else. This is not human behaviour, this is not okay," Omarov said.
According to him, none of the family members could have imagined that the brothers could commit such a crime.
"Ali Zakarigaev (another alleged attacker) is one of my eldest nephews, he is about 36 years old. He is a father of four," said the man. "Recently, a few months ago, his last child was born. [Knowing that] he has such a little baby, how could we even think, no one could think, that this man would leave his family in such a state and do these things."
Omarov also apologised to the victims' families, saying his own family would now live 'with our heads down'.
A series of deadly attacks on churches, synagogues and police posts rocked the Muslim majority Republic of Dagestan’s Makhachkala and Derbent on Sunday evening, June 23. At the time of publication, around 20 people were confirmed dead, many of them police officers, and dozens taken to hospital.
The National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) announced on Monday that five militants had been killed following a counter-terror operation.
The Russian Investigative Committee for the Republic of Dagestan opened criminal cases into the attacks as possible 'terrorist acts'.
Presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov ruled out a return to the kind of attacks seen in the 2000s, saying that 'Russia is different now'. He also added that President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to all those who had lost loved ones.
Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov described the incident in his Telegram channel as 'a despicable provocation and an attempt to bring discord between religions'.