Member of Dagestani armed underground, who was hiding in Belgium, agrees to surrender

In Makhachkala, the commission in charge of helping in adaptation to peaceful life of persons who have decided to stop their terrorist and extremist activity has considered an application of Beslan Batsiev, who is on the international search list and is hiding in Belgium.

The sitting of the commission, where the issue was considered, was held in Makhachkala on February 28; and for the first time it was chaired personally by President of Dagestan Magomedsalam Magomedov. Apart from the members of the commission, the sitting was attended by the members of the Working Group of the Russian Public Chamber for promoting social dialogue and civil society institutions in the Caucasus.

When communicating with the commission by Skype, Batsiev agreed to return to Dagestan. To talk to him, a large monitor was installed in the room.

According to Beslan Batsiev, he had joined the illegal armed formations (IAFs), stationed in the territory of Chechnya, more than seven years ago. According to his story, already then he realized that he was wrong and ran away from the grouping of militants. In fear of their vengeance, he went to Belgium, where he has lived for almost seven years.

All these years Batsiev was on the international search list on charges under Article 208 of the Russian Criminal Code "Organization of IAF". When he learned that Dagestan had started the adaptation assistance commission for the persons who had decided to stop terrorist and extremist activities, he sent an application, through his acquaintances, to the commission, stating his intention to return home; he repented and asked to exercise leniency in his relation.

Batsiev said that he "had not born arms" and wanted to go home. Currently, as he said, he worked in Belgium as a dairy operator.

When asked by the commission why he had made no attempt earlier to return to Dagestan, Batsiev replied that he was afraid.

Batsiev answered to the question of political scientist Orkhan Dzhemal: "You are in Belgium, where nobody is oppressed, why do you want to return?" that he wanted "to live in his native land."

As stated by Abdurashid Magomedov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Dagestan, if the commission moved a petition, it would be possible not to arrest Batsiev on his arrival in Russia until the final consideration of his case by the court. The commission members unanimously voted for this decision.