News

The Main Investigative Department of the IC of Russia for the North Caucasian Federal District continues to investigate a criminal case initiated on the fact of an armed attack on the settlements of Botlikh Raion in the Republic of Dagestan in 1999.

The investigation obtained evidence that Eldar Mashaev, a native of Neftekumsky Raion of Stavropol Krai, was involved in the attack.

It has been established that in mid-July 1999 Mashaev voluntarily joined a gang under the general leadership of Shamil Basayev and Emir Khattab and took an active part in the commission of grave and especially grave crimes. Thus, in the period from August 07, 1999 to August 24, 1999, acting as part of a stable armed group of Basayev and Khattab, rebel fighters armed with automatic weapons, grenades and explosive devices, with a total number of at least 1,000 people, took an active part in an armed rebellion in order to overthrow of the constitutional order and infringe upon the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, and committed an encroachment on the life of the military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, who were ensuring public security and restoring constitutional order on the territory of Botlikh Raion in the Republic of Dagestan.

A massive targeted shelling committed by members of the gang, in which the defendant took part, killed 33 people and inflicted bodily injuries of varying severity on 34 people.

On February 16, 2022, Mashaev was detained with the assistance of officers of the FSB of Russia and the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the North Caucasus Federal District. Currently, officers are conducting urgent investigative and other procedural actions with the participation of the said person aimed at establishing his role and the actions performed in the stable armed group.

The investigation of the criminal case is ongoing, active measures are being taken to identify other members of the gang who committed the attack.