Trial of Aslan Maskhadov companions resumed in Chechnya
By Lecha Sadayev
CHECHNYA - On 25 October the Supreme Court of the Chechen Republic resumed the trial of four Chechens who had been arrested in the village of Tolstoy-yurt, Groznenski district, on 8 March.
At that time three men, Vakhit Murdashev, Viskhan Khadzhimuradov and Iles Iriskhanov, were with a fourth man, Skandarbek Yusupov in his house, together with Aslan Maskhadov, the former President of Ichkeria who was killed during a special operation.
All four defendants are charged with crimes according to the Russian Criminal Code, namely actively participating in an armed rebellion to forcefully overturn the constitution; disrupting the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation; illegally owning, carrying, and transporting weapons; and using false documents.
The first court session took place on October 10th. The accused stated that during the preliminary investigation the staff of the Vladikavkaz District Command for the Fight Against Organized Crime (RUBOP) obtained their confessions by torture and other illegal means.
Murdashev and Yusupov said that their health was seriously impaired because of the torture.
It is still early to judge when this trial will be over. But it should be noted that in Chechnya the general public’s interest in this case is extremely high.
Translated by Mindaugas Kojelis. (MK/A,E)
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