Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov at his inauguration ceremony
Photo: Vasily Deryugin
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Terror Investigation Extended
Lefortovsky Court in Moscow has extended the term of arrest of three Chechens suspected of preparing a terrorist act in Moscow until October 8. At the court hearing, it was also revealed that they are incriminated in preparing to assassinate a member of the government. The defendants' lawyers say the FSB may name their target as Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov in order to deprive them of support in Chechnya.
According to the FSB investigation, Chechens Umar Batukaev, Ruslan Musaev and Lors Khamiev are members of a terrorist group. Khamiev, who took part in the rebel attack on Ingushetia in 2004, obtained explosives for Batukaev and Musaev, who planted them in a Russian-made car. That car was supposed to blow up during Victory Day observations on May 9. The explosives were discovered and the suspects were arrested on May 8, however. Investigators appealed to the court to extend their detainment after the two-month limit ran out.
The court hearing was closed to the public, but journalists were admitted to hear the court's decision. FSB representatives declined to name the alleged target of the attack. Lawyers for the defendants also said that they could not name the target, but noted that the accusation was probably intended to deprive the defendants of support in their homeland. Relatives of the defendants said that Ramzan Kadyrov was mentioned during interrogations.
The defense petitioned Kadyrov repeatedly to intervene in their case. They were, in turn, contacted by representatives of the Chechen presidential administration, who promised that the president had taken a personal interest in their case. By naming the president as the target of the defendants' attack, the prosecution can turn his attention to its advantage.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of July 05, 2007
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