Father of Kartoev brothers killed in 2010 in Ingushetia seeks to get their bodies for burial

Umatgirey Kartoev, a resident of Ingushetia, has come to Moscow hoping to meet Mr Uschakovskiy, Senior Investigator of the Chief Investigatory Department of the Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF), and seek assistance in receiving the bodies of his four sons, who were killed on March 2, 2010, during a special operation in the village of Ekazhevo.

Let us remind you that on that day, apart from four Kartoev brothers - Tukhan, Nazir, Akhmed and Magomed, two more Ekazhevo villagers were shot dead in a special operation. They all were declared by law enforcement bodies to be members of IAFs (illegal armed formations). Besides, power agents detained 16 persons, among them - three surviving Kartoev brothers - Tarkhan, Tatarkhan and Beslan, who are accused, together with seven other residents of Ekazhevo, of blowing up the "Neva-Express" train on November 27, 2009.

The hearing on the explosion of the "Neva-Express" train in 2009 is conducted by the Tver Regional Court. The prosecution party has demanded to sentence the four defendants - three Kartoev brothers and Zelimkhan Aushev - to life imprisonment. The last court session was held on February 2; then, the court adjourned the case for preparation of the verdict.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Umatgirey Kartoev that for more than two years he had been trying to have the bodies of his killed four sons for burial.

According to the father, he had addressed various bodies with requests to allow him to bury his sons. An official response to his request said that his appeal to the Chief Investigatory Department of the ICRF had been considered.

"The criminal investigation continues; and the term of preliminary investigation has been extended till March 23, 2012. In the course of investigation, the issue of giving out Kartoev bodies will be considered," said the document signed by Senior Investigator N. Uschakovskiy.

"I received this response in January," said Umatgirey Kartoev. "The investigation was extended till March 23; now it's the end of April. The Tver Regional Court has completed the hearing of the explosion case. Maybe, they will now address the issue of giving out my sons' bodies."