A court has recognized the evidence gathered by the Russia’s Investigative Committee sufficient to convict 13 local citizens: Ruslan Kumukov, Ismail Batchaev, Ruslan Chagarov, Artur Uzdenov, Telegen Magulaev, Arsen Elkanov, Kazy Uzdenov, Ruslan Semyonov, Artur Ismailov, Rasul Gappoev, Shamil Gadzhaev, Marat Bytdaev, Artur Batchaev. They were found guilty of crimes under part 2 of article 208 (illegal organization of an armed group or participation in it), article 222 (illegal circulation of firearms), part 3 of article 30, part 2 of article 167 (attempted intentional destruction of or damage to property), part 1 of article 30, article 278 (plotting forcible seizure of power or forcible holding of power), part 4 of article 223 (illegal manufacturing of firearms) of the RF Penal Code.
According to investigators, in the period between 2008 and July 2011, 29-years-old Kumukov, being an adherent of extremist religious branch of Islam, set up in the republic and headed an illegal armed group, consisting of local citizens, united by radical religious extremist views. The main aims of the group were: attempts on the lives of law enforcement officers in order to obstruct their legal activity, acts of sabotage and terrorist attacks in the republic, activities aimed at illegal circulation of firearms, ammunition, explosive devices, influencing the republican authorities to create all the necessary conditions for unopposed expansion of radical Islam, forcible seizure of power and changing the Constitutional order of the Russian Federation, Karachay-Cherkessia and in the whole of North Caucasus region to create a state with sheria government and split the region from Russia. When heading the group, Kumukov performed a set of managing functions: he recruited the members of the group, took their oath allegiance, collected money, bought arms and ammunition, made explosive devices, repeatedly went to the Republic of Turkey for terrorist training. In the course of investigating and search operations a large amount of arms, ammunition, explosive devices and explosives was confiscated from members of the group.
The investigators have worked thoroughly to gather the evidence. Almost 500 witnesses were questioned and over 40 forensic expert examinations were set up.
The court has sentenced them to prison terms ranging from 6 years and 10 months to 12 years to be served in a maximum-security colony.
PDF version 
DOC version
