23 September 2003, 16:30
Measures in respect of those who organized mass beating of Chechen students in Nalchik have not been taken yet
The events of the last week that took place in Nalchik have become widely known in the regions where natives of the Chechen Republic live today. A representative delegation of Chechen officials headed by Chechen Vice-Prime Minister for security agencies Movsar Khamidov left for Kabardino-Balkaria on September 20.
The delegation members acquainted themselves with circumstances of the mass beating of students of the Chechen nationality. All victims affirmed unanimously that the number of the attackers was tens of times larger than the number of the people being beaten. Students were beaten in different parts of Nalchik at the same time. This is evidence that the action was thoroughly planned. According to victims' statements, police kept completely aloof from discharge of their duties during these events and turned into exterior observers.
The number of victims came to 54 people.
While meeting with the group of high-ranked Chechen officials, Interior Minister of Kabardino-Balkaria Khachim Shogenov promised to take this incident under his personal control, reveal and punish the instigators and participants in the slaughter. This promise was sounded on September 20. Several days have passed, but parents keep holding their children at home because rumors on militant rouges that arranged the mass beating of students from Chechnya keep circulating in Nalchik. Law-enforcement organs are keeping silence for the moment.
