Evidence collected by the Main Investigation Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the North Caucasus Federal Okrug in cooperation with the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia was recognized as sufficient by the Southern Okrug Military Court in order to adjudicate a verdict to Mr. Khazvakh Cherkhigov. He is accused of committing crimes prescribed in Part 3, Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, Part 2, Article 209 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, Part 1, Article 313 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, paragraphs "c", "e", "h", "m" Article 102 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR and Part 2, Article 126.1 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR (terrorism, gang violence, escape from places of deprivation of liberty, murder and hostage-taking).

Investigation and the court established that in the first half of June 1995, Mr. Cherkhigov, resident of the Chechen Republic, voluntarily joined a gang led by Mr. Shamil Basayev and took an active part in the commission of serious and very serious crimes. Thus, on June 14, 1995, acting as part of a stable armed group of Basayev, Mr. Cherkhigov, as well as other militants armed with automatic weapons, grenades and explosive devices, totaling at least 160 people, attacked organizations and citizens of the Budyonnovsk city in Stavropol krai. As a result of an armed attack by a gang on Budyonnovsk, 129 people were killed, 317 citizens were injured with varying severity and 1.586 citizens were taken hostage. 198 cars were destroyed and damaged. The Children Creativity Center was damaged by fire. Buildings of the central district hospital, the department of internal affairs, the city administration, 107 household units of individuals were significantly damaged. Property owners suffered significant damage to their assets in the amount of more than 95 million non-denominated rubles.

In order to escape responsibility for the crimes committed, Mr. Cherkhigov changed his last name to Mr.Ismailov after the attack, and also illegally received a new passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.

Subsequently, under the personal bio data of Mr. Ismailov, he was convicted in 2011 by the Istra City Court of the Moscow oblast for committing crimes against property and public safety, in connection with which he served his sentence in the colony-settlement of Federal State Institution Сcorrectional Сolony-9 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in Kursk oblast, but on February 2013 he escaped from there. Later, Mr.Cherkhigov changed his personal bio data again, which allowed him to hide from law enforcement agencies for a long time.

By a verdict, Mr. Cherkhigov was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 12 years to be served in a strict regime penal colony.