29 December 2008, 18:00
Chechen residents held a second meeting against early release of Budanov
Today, Chechen residents have held a second meeting in Grosny against the grant of parole to former colonel Yuri Budanov convicted for murdering Chechen girl Elza Kungaeva.
The first action of protest against the early release of Budanov was held in Grozny on December 25, about one thousand people attended the meeting.
During the today's action, in particular, Lema Kungaev, Elza Kungaeva's uncle, spoke. He noted that he considered the court ruling unfair. "The court proceedings (on Budanov's case) has lasted for three and a half years, and all this time we have been fighting for justice. We have managed to prove his guilt, but now he is going to be set free. The fact that now they are going to release a rapist and murderer once again demonstrates that the Russian judiciary system applies double standards with regard to serious crimes committed in Chechnya by Russian army servicemen", cites RIA "Novosti" Kungaev's words.
The meeting attended by several hundreds of people was organized by the Public Chamber of the Chechen Republic, youth, students' and non-government organizations, and regional branches of political parties, reports "Interfax".
"It is not a misfortune of the Kungaevs' family alone, it is a misfortune of our nation, of the entire country. Budaev was convicted for a short term and, additionally, he was released early. It is not fair with regard to our nation", said Turpal-Ali Dzhabrailov, head of the Chechen Public Chamber administration.
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