KBR: criminal case initiated against militiaman who issued gun license to Cherkesov

A criminal case has been opened against the head of the license-and-permit division of the Nalchik UVD (Interior Department), where a self-defence gun license had been granted to Aslan Cherkesov, accused of murdering "Spartak" fan Yegor Sviridov in Moscow.

According to Olga Nebotova, Senior Assistant of the Prosecutor of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR), "in connection with the murder of football fan Yegor Sviridov in Moscow by Aslan Cherkesov, a resident of Nalchik, the Prosecutor's Office of the KBR has checked the legality of licensing Cherkesov for purchase, storage and bearing of arms."

The materials of the check were forwarded to the Investigatory Department of the Russian Investigatory Committee for the KBR "for deciding on criminal prosecution on the facts of violations of the law, the "Interfax" reports.

The official website of the Prosecutor's Office of the KBR says that "the Investigatory Division for Nalchik of the Investigatory Department for the KBR of the Russian Investigatory Committee has initiated a criminal case against N. Kh. Kuzhev, head of the above license-and-permit division under the article of 'negligence'."

According to the prosecution, the militiaman is suspected of "improper performance of his duties through careless and negligent attitude to service, which caused a human death by negligence." The article envisions up to five years in prison, the "Gazeta.Ru" writes.