Family killed in Starye Atagi on the New Year´s dayRuslan Isayev, North Caucasus - Right at noon, January 1, 2002, there was a huge explosion in the village of Starye Atagi, south of the capital Grozny, resulting in a total destruction of the house of Matsiev family located on the Central street. Immediately after the incident security authorities suggested the version of an accident stating that gas blasted the house. Consequences are serious: the roof is gone and the walls are destroyed. The only part of the house that remained is the floor. But what is the worst, the blast claimed the lives of the family’s father Adam Matsiev, his sons Abu, Ayub, Yusup and his fourteen-year-old daughter Aset.
Starye Atagi residents blame the explosion on Russian soldiers. The village had been the place of one of infamous “special operations” for a couple of days in succession. During their searches, the soldiers paid special attention to Matsievs’ house. Not long after they left, an explosion resounded there. Almost all members of the family were at home at the moment. The neighbours claim that an explosive time mechanism went off in the house. The villagers say the eldest son, Belan, is a guerilla group commander, which speaks for their version of the blast.
Similar explosions thundered in the evening of December 9, 2001, in the settlement of Alkhan-Yurt, southwest of the capital Grozny. After Russian soldiers finished searches and checks in the houses of families Yunusov and Chazuyev, both buildings exploded.
Security authorities promised the local administration that the case of the explosion in Matsievs’ house would be investigated. However, scarcely anybody in the village believes that.
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