Russian officer responsible for shelling the settlement of Starye Atagi under trial in Chechnya

On February 6, the first session on the case of a Russian officer, through whose fault the village of Starye Atagi in Grozny district, Chechnya, was shelled, started in Grozny garrison military tribunal.

This has been reported by a source in the republic's law enforcement agencies. The officer is said to face up to two years of disciplinary battalion.

"Yesterday, the Grozny garrison military tribunal started hearing of the case of lieutenant Artem Galiakbarov, commander of an artillery platoon through whose fault the village of Starye Atagi was shelled during the night of November 9, 2005. As a result of the shelling, eight houses were destroyed in the village and six members of the Yusupov family, including an eight-year-old girl, suffered," said our interlocutor.

"The military prosecution of the unified military forces in the North Caucasus opened criminal proceedings with regard to the shelling of the settlement under article 349 of the RF Criminal Code ("Violation of the rules of handling weapons, entailing serious damage"). Lieutenant Artem Galiakbarov who made an error in aiming his cannon was found guilty of the incident. He faces two years of service at a disciplinary battalion or limitation of promotion for the same period," said the source in the Chechen law enforcement agencies. According to him, lieutenant Galiakbarov pleaded guilty in court.