News

The evidence gathered by the Main Investigations Directorate over North Caucasian Federal District of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation was found sufficient by the court to sentence Stavropol Territory citizen Ravil Ilmukhambetov. He was found guilty of committing an offence under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Russia (encroachment on the life of an officer of a law-enforcement body).

According to the investigation and the court, in the middle of July, 1999, Ilmukhambetov had voluntarily joined the gang led by Shamil Basaev and Emir Khattab and taken active part in committing of grave and especially grave offences. For instance, from August 7 to August 24, 1999, the operatives, acting as a stable group consisting of more than 1,000 people armed with automatic weapons, grenades and explosive devices, had encroached on lives of military officers of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation that had been securing public safety and establishing constitutional order in Botlikhsky District of the Republic of Dagestan. As a result of the massive targeted fire performed by the gang members including Ilmukhambetov, 33 persons had been killed and 34 citizens had received various injuries, five military officers had remained unharmed due to circumstances beyond control of the gang members.

The preliminary investigation identified, recognised and questioned 72 military officers and their close relatives as victims of the accident. They were subject to 72 forensic examinations.

The court sentenced Ilmukhambetov to 6.5 years of imprisonment.

From 1999 to 2017, over 70 participants of the attack against Botlikhsky and Tsumadinsky Districts of the Republic of Dagestan had been accused of committing of these crimes and sentenced to 3-15 years of imprisonment. Investigations into seven operatives including Shamil Basaev had been closed due to their death. 28 persons had been put on federal and international wanted lists.