Alkhanov's defence declared his non-involvement in attack on Pskov paratroopers

Magomed Alkhanov, a native of Chechnya, who is accused of involvement in the attack on Pskov paratroopers in 2000, is innocent, his advocate has stated. According to his version, Alkhanov has no scars on his body that would indicate his participation in the battles, while investigators have failed to present proofs of his guilt.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the case of the attack on the Pskov paratroopers in 2000 is being considered under the article on encroachment on military servicemen's lives, which provides for punishment up to life imprisonment. On June 16, 2021, another suspect was detained – Magomed Alkhanov, whom investigators treat as a member of Shamil Basaev's gang and suspect of involvement in the attack on the Pskov paratroopers.

Magomed Alkhanov was innocent of the alleged crime, as at the time of the battle he was a minor, while the sources interviewed by the defence claim that Basaev "would have never taken a minor with him," Evgeny Zelenin, an Alkhanov's advocate told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Besides, given the bloody battle, Alkhanov would have had wounds, or at least cuts and scars, but they are absent on his body, the advocate has noted.

When the court ruled on his freedom restriction measure, investigators failed to present a single proof of Alkhanov's guilt; there is not even a testimony of the secret witness, Evgeny Zelenin said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 3, 2021 at 05:01 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.