Realizing the principle of the unavoidability of punishment, Law Enforcement Agencies continue to identify members of gangs and illegal armed groups that attacked Russian military personnel in the North Caucasus more than 20 years ago.

The Main Investigation Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for North Caucasus Federal Okrug is investigatin a criminal case for the fact of an armed attack on servicemen of the 6th company of the 104th regiment of the 76th Pskov Airborne Division, during which 84 people were killed. The attack took place on February 29, 2000 in a mountainous and wooded area near the Ulus-Kert village in the Shatoi raion of the Chechen Republic by a united armed gang under the general leadership of Basayev and Khattab.

During the investigation, in cooperation with the FSB of Russia and the Federal Security Service Directorate of Russia for Tomsk Oblast, another gang member involved in the attack was detained - Mr. Adilkhan Elmanbetov, a native of Shelkovsky raion of the Chechen ASSR.

A criminal investigation also proceeds on the fact of a military clash on October 4, 1999 in the area close to the Chervlennaya village, Shelkovsky raion, the Chechen Republic, which occurred between servicemen who performed a combat mission and members of illegal armed groups who were incorporated to the Basayev and Khattab detachments.

In cooperation with the FSB of Russia and the FSB Directorate of Russia for Stavropol Krai, another gang member involved in this attack was detained - Mr. Takhir Begeldiev, a resident of Neftekumsky raion of Stavropol Krai.

It was detected that at the end of September 1999, Mr. Begeldiev voluntarily joined the gang under the general leadership of Basayev and Khattab and took an active part in the commission of serious and especially serious crimes. Early morning of October 4, 1999, in the Chervlennaya village, Shelkovsky Raion, the Chechen Republic, the gang members, who were on their positions, including Mr. Begeldiev, acting in concert under the general leadership of Khattab, waited for the personnel of military unit 34605 of the Russian Ministry of Defense and committed armed attack on them. As a result of a massive shelling of the gang members, 15 servicemen were killed, another 28 suffered bodily injuries of varying severity.

Mr. Elmanbetov and Mr. Begeldiev were charged with committing crimes prescribed in Article 279, Part 2, Article 209, Article 317 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (armed rebellion, participation in a gang and infringement on life of military personnel). Considering the special gravity of the crimes committed, the investigation petitioned the court to impose a restraint as custody on Mr. Elmanbetov, who has already been arrested by the court.

The investigation consolidates evidence about the contribution part and specific actions committed by the accused during the attacks.

Mr. Elmanbetov is also examined for involvement in the commission of other crimes not related to this particular criminal investigation.