NALCHIK, March 21 - RAPSI. The investigative agencies of Kabardino-Balkaria, a republic in the North Caucasus, Russia, have opened a criminal case against an imam of a rural area who allegedly financed terrorism with believers' donations, a regional investigative authority said.

According to investigators, Mukhamed Margushev, the imam of Svetlovodskoye, a village in the Zolsky District of the republic, had access to donations from Muslims in his area from March to October 2012.

"With the aim of financing an illegal armed group, the suspect is thought to have sent around 80,000 rubles ($2,600) of donations to Islam Zhanov, the leader of a group which operated in the Zolsky District," the investigators said.

Furthermore, it is also thought that Zhanov gave Margushev money to purchase mobile phones, SIM cards and electronic data storage equipment for his group.

The local authorities have opened a case under the article on assisting an illegal armed group, which stipulates a maximum punishment of five years in prison.

The suspect has been arrested.