Prosecution qualifies offences of attackers on Nalchik as terrorism and armed revolt

At the trial on the case of the attack on Nalchik, prosecutors have qualified the actions of all the defenders as banditry, armed revolt, terrorism, attempts on lives of law enforcers and murder of two or more persons. It is expected that the prosecution will finish their debate on October 12 and announce the proposed punishments, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

At the today's court session, the state prosecutor Chibinyova has emphasized that all the defendants were members of one criminal organization, the aim of which was to overthrow the political system and establish a Sharia state, and confirmed this statement by testimonies of witnesses Kodzev, Tengizov and Khezhev.

The prosecutor has added that Mukozhev had stated at the rally of militants that the Jamaat had decided to join Chechnya and launch a jihad for establishment of a Sharia state.

According to Chibinyova, initially the Nalchik Airport had been among objects of the attack. However, the law enforcement bodies had received information about an imminent attack and managed to take countermeasures.

"On October 13, 2005, a pre-planned and well-prepared action was undertaken in Nalchik with the use of firearms and grenades having huge striking power," said the prosecutor.