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Putin posthumously awards Dagestan police officer Hero of Russia title

According to the Russian president, Magomed Nurbagandov has shown what a police officer’s honor is
Russia's President Vladimir Putin and parents of Dagestani police officer Magomed Nurbagandov  Mikhail Metzel/TASS
Russia's President Vladimir Putin and parents of Dagestani police officer Magomed Nurbagandov
© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

MOSCOW, September 22. /TASS/. Police lieutenant Magomed Nurbagandov has shown everybody what a police officer’s honor is and "found immortality" after facing death. These are the words that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said at the state awards ceremony. Magomed Nurbagandov was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation.

"It sometimes happens that fate gives someone only a few minutes, a few moments, a few seconds to do a big deed, make one’s choice - either lose one’s nerve or find immortality," the president said referring to Nurbagandov’s act of bravery.

Addressing his parents who were present at the ceremony, Putin pointed out that they had brought up a true man and warrior. "Our brave officer has shown everybody what an officer’s honor is and the country is grateful to you for bringing up such a man," the president added. "Our life’s journey ends sooner or later, the end is inevitable… The question is how we live our life and - like in this case - how we end it," the head of state noted.

The Hero of Russia medal was handed to Magomed parents, Nurbagand Nurbagandov and Kumsiyat Nurbagandova. On Wednesday Putin had a meeting with them.

On July 10, four militants stumbled upon a group of campers in a forest two kilometers away from the Sergokal village (Dagestan). The combatants came up to them and shot down a 23-year-old man. After that the militants tied up the other four men and searched their car.They found Magomed's police identification card and ordered him to address his colleagues urging them to resign from the police but he defied the militants, saying: "Keep on working, brothers!" before being killed.

Two of the combatants involved in Nurbagandov’s murder, including Khalimbekov, leader of the militant group from Dagestan’s town of Izberbash, were killed during special operations on Septebmer 7 in Dagestan’s capital of Makhachkala and the town of Izerbash. The other two were detained by the law enforcement officers on September 9 in Izerbash.