President of Kabardino-Balkaria meets parents of suspected militants

Today, at the Government House, Arsen Kanokov, the head of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR), urged parents from the Elbrus District to influence their sons, who are on the search list as suspects of terror activities, towards their return to peaceful life.

Mr Kanokov told parents that the republic would set up a commission to be engaged in adapting militants to peaceful life.

As stated on the website of the head of the KBR, a number of measures to mitigate punishments in case of voluntary laying arms and surrender to law enforcers have already been taken at the federal level. In particular, amendments were adopted in the Russian Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure on the procedure for the so-called "deal with justice". "This law gives tools to investigatory bodies and courts to pass essentially more lenient punishments to persons, who have repented of what they had committed and gave up any further criminal activities," says the message posted on Arsen Kanokov's website.

Mr Kanokov promised to personally oversee the entire process.

"We'll organize a sort of a 'corridor' to be used by everyone who changed his mind. I guarantee that no 'lawlessness' will be applied to them. We'll do everything to ensure that in case of voluntary surrender the inquiry is held strictly under the law," said Arsen Kanokov.

He promised that every militant, who has not committed grave crimes, has a chance to return.

"Those who reject our offer will see the same end - sooner or later," said the president.

Parents told Arsen Kanokov about their problems and expressed their willingness to cooperate with the aim to bring their children back to peaceful life.