06 December 2023, 16:11
Those accused of attacking Pskov paratroopers call the case fabricated
Arslan Taushev and Rasul Koshmanbetov, accused of attacking Pskov paratroopers, have stated that the accusation was based on the testimony of a single classified witness. They asked the Supreme Court (SC) of Chechnya to cancel the decision to return the case to the prosecutor's office, but the court has rejected this request.
In 2018, the Russian General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) announced that Taushev and Koshmanbetov, who were serving their sentences for involvement in militants, were accused of attacking military personnel in 2000.
At night on March 1, 2000, soldiers of the sixth company of the 104th regiment of the 76th Guards Airborne Division entered into battle in Chechnya with a large detachment of Shamil Basaev and Khattab. The company held back the onslaught of approximately 2000 militants who tried to break out of the encirclement for about 24 hours. Then, 84 out of 90 militaries were killed, as well as 370 militants. Analysts cite corruption and command's and officers' incompetence among the reasons for the tragedy.
Taushev and Koshmanbetov have stated that the case was falsified, the "Kavkaz.Realii"* project reports. Their cases came to court back in 2018 and have not yet been considered.
Koshmanbetov has indicated that his crime was that he studied at the "Kavkaz" Islamic Institute of the Chechen Republic and did not personally participate in any military clashes.
*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 5, 2023 at 03:14 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Source: Caucasian Knot
