The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don continued consideration of the criminal case against 63-year-old Grozny resident Alavdi Batykaev. According to investigators, in 1999 he joined the illegal armed group of the “self-proclaimed Chechen Republic of Ichkeria” under the leadership of Shamil Basayev and Khattab. Batykaev allegedly participated in an attack on servicemen of the sixth parachute company of the 104th regiment of the 76th Pskov Airborne Division.

The main evidence for the prosecution is the testimony of classified witnesses. The Memorial Center believes that he is accused unfoundedly. At the last meeting, the prosecution finished reading out the testimony of 109 victims - relatives of the dead paratroopers. Some of the victims filed civil claims against Batykaev for compensation for moral damage in the amount of one to ten million rubles.

Testimony from relatives of Russian military personnel is presented in almost all identical criminal cases initiated against natives of Chechnya on charges of participation in an attack on paratroopers. People repeat the official version or talk about the lives of their relatives before the incriminated events.

According to Memorial, along with the flawed evidence of guilt in the indictment, there is also a series of evidence of Batykaev’s innocence. These are testimony and protocols of interviews with himself, fellow villagers, acquaintances and relatives. They explained that at the time of the crime charged against Batykaev, he was a civilian.