22:38, 21 September 2004

Chechen public indignant at intention to pardon Budanov

Representatives of Chechen authorities have roundly denounced the intention of Ulyanovsk regional authorities to relieve Colonel Yuri Budanov of criminal responsibility for the murder of Chechen girl Elza Kungayeva.

Yesterday, September 20, head of the Chechen State Council Taus Dzhabrailov said to a local TV channel he saw no grounds for announcing a pardon to Colonel Budanov. "I think Budanov and Ulman (commander of the Russian Defense Ministry's special operations group, which shot dead 6 civilians in the Shatoy district of Chechnya in the winter of 2001 - editor's note) are murders. They killed innocent people. And they must be isolated from the other normal, healthy people." Mr Dzhabrailov said.

Earlier, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Chechen Government Ramzan Kadyrov issued open threats towards Budanov. "If Budanov is amnestied, we will find an opportunity to reward him according to his deserts," he said. At the same time, the Chechen regional branch of the United Russia party addressed the State Duma and the Russian President with a request not to grant amnesty to Yuri Budanov.

Author: Sultan Abubakarov, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot