Court postpones hearing in case on massacre in Cherkessk in 2004

The Supreme Court of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR) has postponed for October 28 the hearing in the case against Djasharbek Gloov and Shamil Chomaev, accused of resonant massacre of seven persons committed in 2004 at the summer cottage belonging to the husband of the daughter of the former leader of the republic. The court hearing was postponed because of the absence of the advocates.

According to investigators, Djasharbek Gloov, Shamil Chomaev and other persons, who had been earlier convicted in the case, shot and killed Rasul Bogatyryov and his friends. Besides, Djasharbek Gloov illegally obtained a Russian passport and a driver's license for a fictional name. Djasharbek Gloov and Shamil Chomaev are charged with murder, arms trafficking, and use of knowingly fake documents.

During the court hearing, Djasharbek Gloov has claimed that in recent time, he worked at a brick factory as a commercial director, that he was liable for military service and that he had no earlier criminal records. Shamil Chomaev worked as a guard of private enterprise.

The court hearing is scheduled for October 28, and it is planned that the court will begin the questioning of the victims in the case.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2006, the Supreme Court of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR) sentenced other defendants in the case to different terms of imprisonment, up to life imprisonment. According to the verdict, Aliy Kaitov, the General Director of Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) "Kavkaztsement" and the deputy of the National Assembly of the KChR, was recognized an organizer of the crime, and he was sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment in a penal colony.

According to the investigators, the main motive of the murder was in economic interests.