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Two members of Shamil Basayev’s gang involved in 1995 attack on Budyonnovsk jailed

A court has recognized the evidence gathered by the North Caucasian Federal District Directorate of the Investigative Committee as sufficient to convict Ramzan Belyalov and Magomed Mazdayev. Depending on the role of each one, they were found guilty of a terrorist attack under Part 3 of Article 205 and banditry under Part 2 of Article 209 of the RF Criminal Code.

The court and investigators have revealed that residents of the Chechen Republic Belyalov and Mazdayev joined Shamil Basayev’s gang in the first half of 1995, and took active part in major crimes committed by the gang. On 14 June 1995, Basayev’s gang of at least 160 people armed with submachine guns, grenades and explosive devices, attacked organizations and citizens of Budyonnovsk in Stavropol Territory.

129 people were killed, 317 injured in the attack, 1,191 citizens sustained moral damage, 1,586 citizens were taken hostages. 198 cars were destroyed or damaged, the fire damaged the House of Children’s Art, buildings of central district hospital, department of internal affairs, city administration, 107 houses were considerably damaged, property owned by legal or physical persons was destroyed or damaged, that is considerable property damage was inflicted, over 95.6 billion of non-denominated rubles.

During a search in Mazdayev’s house in December 2014, the investigators found and seized a considerable amount of drugs.

The court sentenced Belyalov to 15 years and Mazdayev to 13 years in a minimum security facility. The accused have been released in accordance with Article 126.1 of the RSFSR Criminal Code and Article 228 of the RF Criminal Code under the statute of limitations.

1,693 people were recognized as injured parties and questioned as such during the preliminary investigation.

28 participants of the attack on Budyonnovsk were convicted and got between 11 and 15 years of prison from 1995 to 2017. Charges were dropped against 5 people, including Basayev, due to their death. 29 people are still wanted.

One of the problems the investigators faced during the probe was the time that affected the appearance of the attackers. In addition, they had tried hard to hide from the investigators, by changing their ID documents. The investigators identified and questioned witnesses of the crimes and used portrait examinations to identify some of the attackers.

The investigators are now working to check if two more persons were involved in the attack on Budyonnovsk and other crimes committed by Basayev’s gang. They are looking into their role and actions as members of the gang.

The investigation continues. Active efforts are ongoing to find other accomplices.

Spokesperson for the Investigative Committee                                                                                      Svetlana Petrenko