Inquiry against 1999 Dagestan raid suspect complete - Russian investigators
MOSCOW. July 16 (Interfax) - A criminal inquiry has been completed regarding a man suspected of involvement in an armed raid in the Republic of Dagestan in Russia's North Caucasus in 1999, during which 90 security service officers and civilians were killed, the Russian Investigative Committee said in a press release seen by Interfax on Tuesday.
"Abdulkerimov has been charged with participation in a militant group, armed mutiny, an attack on the officers of law enforcement agencies and illegal possession of firearms," the committee said.
In August 1999, acting together with militant leaders Shamil Basayev and Khattab, Abdulkerimov fought against federal forces during an armed raid aimed at seizing power in Dagestan and establishing an Islamic state on its territory, investigators said.
"On August 8, 1999, federal forces launched a large-scale operation to eliminate the aforementioned persons. The subsequent armed clashes claimed the lives of 90 servicemen, officers of law enforcement agencies and civilians. A total of 290 people sustained various injuries. Thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes in the wake of the attack," the committee said.
The criminal case opened against Abdulkerimov will soon be sent to court, it said.
