A Chechen Rebel Commander Sentenced to Life in Prison

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 26, 2001

A Chechen Rebel Commander Sentenced to Life in Prison

A Russian court pronounced Chechen rebel commander Salman Raduyev guilty of terrorism and murder on Tuesday and sentenced him to life in a maximum-security prison.

A Russian court pronounced Chechen rebel commander Salman Raduyev guilty of terrorism and murder on Tuesday and sentenced him to life in a maximum-security prison.

Raduyev was the only prominent rebel commander to be arrested and brought to trial since the Russian armed forces entered the breakaway region seven years ago.

Russia's top prosecutor Vladimir Ustinov personally directed the case, underlining the importance the government placed on putting Raduyev and three accomplices in a bloody 1996 raid behind bars.

Raduyev is best known for leading the January 1996 raid on the southern Russian town of Kizlyar, in which 78 people were killed. He and other rebels took hundreds of hostages at a local hospital and used some of them as human shields. He was arrested in March 2000.

In addition to terrorism, Raduyev and three alleged accomplices were charged with banditry, hostage-taking, and organizing murders. In all, they faced up to 10 counts each.

Raduyev, who was severely wounded several times, has said repeatedly that he was merely taking orders from late rebel president Dzhokhar Dudayev when he led the Kizlyar raid. Raduyev was commander of Dudayev's army.

The court sentenced Raduyev's alleged accomplice Turpal-Ali Atgeriyev to 15 years in prison, a third defendant, Aslanbek Alkhazurov, to eight years in prison, and the last defendant, Khusein Gaisumov, to five years. Raduyev and Atgeriyev were found not guilty on the counts of organizing and participating in illegal armed formations - the Russian term for rebel bands.

Defense lawyers said they would appeal.

Kremlin Pledges More Talks After First Meeting With Chechen Envoy

Russia Vows Winter Campaign Against Chechen Rebels