North Ossetia: doctor accused of selling baby sent to SIZO

As reported by Eduard Gusov, senior assistant to the head of the Department of the Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) for North Ossetia, Valentina Tedeeva, the chief doctor of the maternity ward of the Republic's Hospital, was placed into the SIZO (pre-trial prison) in connection with the official indictment of selling a human.

According to investigators, Tedeeva was arrested on April 6, when trying to sell a baby abandoned by its 15-year-old mother. At night on April 10, Tedeeva was hospitalized with hypertensive crisis.

As explained by Eduard Gusov to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, the accused was sent to the SIZO from the hospital, where she was treated; and she will stay there until June 7 - for the period of investigatory actions.

The baby is now in a children's hospital; and on the results of the investigation, a decision will be made to return it to his mother or transfer under guardianship's care, Mr Gusov has added.

The doctor is accused of selling a minor (points "b" and "c", Part 1, Article 127.1 of the Russia Criminal Code); she faces up to ten years in prison.

According to the FSB, the republic had a criminal group, selling babies. The case has a number of suspects, who, as investigators believe, had been engaged in criminal activities for many years.

So far, the "Caucasian Knot" has no comments of Valentina Tedeeva regarding the charges. Earlier, her sister Zalina stated that the defendant does not admit her guilt and believes that the incident was a misunderstanding.