Five residents of Ingushetia receive long prison terms for plotting terror acts

Today, the North-Caucasian District Military Court has found residents of Ingushetia guilty of preparing terror acts at the French Embassy in Moscow and sentenced them to imprisonment for the terms from 12 to 20 years.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 15, 2016, the FSB announced the detention of five persons, suspected of preparing terror acts in Ingushetia and Moscow. All the five were arrested. Investigators accused Salamkhan Sampiev, Ruslan Esmurziev, Khusen Kitiev, Magomed Amatkhanov and Elbert Kharsiev of links with the Islamic State (IS), a terrorist organization, banned in Russia by the court. At the January 23 court session, the defendants stated that they had confessed under torture.

Today, the above court has ruled on the case, finding the defendants guilty, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, who is present at the trial, reports.

According to the judgement, Magomed Amatkhanov was sentenced to 20 years in a high-security colony, 1.5 years of freedom restriction and a fine of 200,000 roubles; Ruslan Esmurziev was sentenced to 17 years of strict regime, one year of freedom restriction, and also has to pay a fine of 200,000 roubles; Salamkhan Sampiev has received 17 years in a high-security colony, a year of freedom restriction and a fine of 200,000 roubles. Two other defendants received less severe punishment: Khussein Kitiev – 12 years in a high-security colony and a fine of 100,000 roubles; and Elbert Kharsiev – 13 years in a high-security colony and a fine of 100,000 roubles.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 28, 2019 at 11:46 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.