On 2 November, Ibrahim Eldzharkiyev, the chief of the Ingushetia department of the Russian interior ministry’s anti-extremism center (also known as "E" Centre), was shot and killed in Moscow, a source in the emergencies services said, reported checheninfo.ru.

In addition to the head of the Ingush Center “E”, Eldzharkiyev’s brother also died as a result of the shooting. In Moscow, the Interception plan was announced, but it did not bring any results, since the suspects managed to leave the city, sources say.

According to a TASS source in law enforcement agencies, Eldzharkiyev survived an assassination attempt in January 2019 when his car came under gunfire while moving from Chechnya to Ingushetia. Two policemen and one civilian who were in the car received serious gun wounds, but Eldzharkiyev remained unharmed.

The Caucasian Knot reported that Eldzharkiyev’s murder was committed amid his conflict with the followers of Sheikh Batal-Hadji, where one of their leaders, Ibrahim Belkharoyev was killed in 2018. According to the source, the assassination of the E Centre head may be related to the blood feud custom, as recently Eldzharkiyev had disagreements with one of the influential Ingush communities.

Based in the village of Surkhakhi, southeast of Nazran, the Batal-hadji Sufi brotherhood is said to be one of the most secretive in Ingushetia and is regarded with suspicion and mistrust by much of the local population. Its members wield considerable financial influence; their assets include a large market in Nazran and a string of gas stations.

In 2017 Sultan Belkharoyev (relative of Ibrahim) wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin complaining of what he termed “organized persecution in the form of constant illegal measures directed at persons who belong to our vird”. He said that some 40 searches were carried out at the homes of various members of the brotherhood, during which the police planted weapons. He attributed that pressure to “members of extremist organizations” who, he claimed, have infiltrated law enforcement agencies over the past six years and who engage in intimidation and the fabrication of criminal cases against members of the Batal-hadji brotherhood. That pressure has become so great, Belkhoroyev continued, that members of the brotherhood were seriously considering emigrating en masse.