Defence of victims of Dubrovka terror act receives refusal to initiate criminal case against officials

Today, the Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) has denied the motion lodged by Igor Trunov, who is representing the relatives of the casualties of the October 2002 terror act in Dubrovka Theatrical Centre, on initiating criminal proceedings against the officials who were in charge of storming the Centre.

Mr Trunov told today the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he had asked to open a criminal case on the fact of poor organization of the rescue operation of former hostages held on October 23, 2002, at the Theatrical Centre. However, the answer of A. B. Suprunenko, an investigator of especially important cases, says that the opening of the case was rejected.

Igor Trunov does not agree with the decision and will submit a complaint today to the Lefortovo District Court of Moscow. He quoted his complaint as follows: "I hereby ask to consider the actions (inaction) of Suprunenko, A. B., an investigator of especially important cases of the first investigatory division of the first department for investigating especially important cases (crimes against person and public safety) of the chief investigatory department for Moscow of the ICRF, who had failed to consider my motion on opening a criminal case and sent an answer."