Issa Khashagulgov, resident of Ingushetia, suspected of two terror acts

On February 22, the Lefortovo District Court held a session on the case of Issa Khashagulgov. Judge Alexander Rybak extended his custody till May 25, 2011. The prosecution believes that Khashagulgov was involved in the terror act in Vladikavkaz in September 2010; his relatives insist on his innocence.

The session of the Lefortovo Court was, as announced at the very last moment, closed, and the court marshal Nikolai Chugunny forced the media people and Khashagulgov's daughter and wife, who came to the trial from Ingushetia, to leave the courtroom. Musa Pliev, the defendant's advocate, recommended the audience to follow the marshal's order; however, he stressed that the judge should announce the closed regime of the session.

Nadezhda Savenko, press secretary of the Lefortovo Court, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondents that the court session was closed, because secret documents were to be read out at the session. Representatives of the investigation and prosecution refused to comment on this issue. However, despite subsequent assertions of the press secretary that the case was completely closed, and no one would be let in, "only to sentence announcement, but certainly not today," still, Pyatimat Khashagulgova, the defendant's wife, their daughter, and the "Caucasian Knot" correspondents were admitted to hear the very end of the session.

The correspondents have learnt that Khashagulgov's advocates had signed nondisclosure obligations; therefore, they could not give any comments.

Let us remind you that Khashagulgov's relatives and Ingush human rights activists had reported that Issa was detained on his way to Nazran, where he wanted to buy medicines for the child. However, inspectors assert that Issa was detained in Vladikavkaz with ammunition.

The official notification about extension of Khashagulgov's custody reports that Issa Khashagulgov's case has to do with six other criminal cases. "In total, 33 persons figure in these cases; two of them are in custody, and 26 are on the international and federal wanted lists." It was also reported that during a personal search a PM (Makarov) pistol with ammunition was found on Khashagulgov, and in his car Honda Accord - a magazine case with eight PM cartridges and an RGN grenade with a fuse.

Issa is also suspected of helping Dokku Umarov, one of North-Caucasian militants' leaders. According to the investigation, "under Umarov's decision Khashagulgov was appointed to be one of the leaders of the illegal armed formation (IAF) "Imarat Kavkaz" and was in charge of the activities of its subdivisions, based in the Republic of Ingushetia, as well as for financing the IAF as a whole."

Issa's advocates continue arguing that the inquiry is deliberately protracted.

Pyatimat Khashagulgova claims pressure on her family by Ingush authorities and believes that her husband's detention had to do with it. She plans to address international human rights and judiciary organizations to defend her right to be present at her husband's trial.