29 October 2010, 23:00
Two militiamen accused of murdering civilians face trial in Chechnya
The Supreme Court of the Chechen Republic has started considering the criminal case opened against two militiamen accused of killing two persons.
According to investigators, the illegal actions of Israpil and Dzhabrail Baisurkaev led to the death of Rustam Eskerkhanov and Lom-Ali Ezerbiev, and to injury of Alikhan Eskerkhanov.
The inquiry states that the reason of the conflict was an everyday one, the "Gazeta.Ru" reports. The incident occurred in late July 2009.
According to the victims, the cause of the conflict was an attempted rape, committed by the father of one of the militiamen against a woman from the family of the casualties. Both parties brought their relatives to settling the situation. As a result of the gunfire, Eskerkhanov and Ezerbiev were shot dead, reports the press service of the human rights organization "Interregional Committee Against Torture", which presents victims' interests at trial.
Zainabi Ezerbieva, wife of one of the casualties stated a claim for moral compensation in the amount of 500,000 roubles. Other casualties' relatives also intend to file similar claims.
The position of the defendants and their advocates is still unknown.
