"Nord-Ost" hostages want to sue high-rank bureaucrats

Before the end of 2006, relatives of Dubrovka terror act victims will go to law against the officials who headed the headquarters in charge of hostage rescue. According to Tatiana Karpova, co-chairperson of the organization to help the victims of the "Nord-Ost" terror, they have incontestable proofs of the bureaucrats' guilt, and before the end of this year they will certainly go to law against them.

According to Ms. Karpova, relatives of those perished and those who were injured and survived were forced to address the investigation of the terror act themselves, since as of December 2003, there is only one single investigator in charge of it. In her words, the future claimants are seeking help among foreign law enforcement bodies, "since Russian state structures respond with their "no's" and run-arounds."

Meanwhile, the investigation deadline has been extended till November 19, and, most probably, will be extended still further. "A petition was lodged to the Deputy Prosecutor General to extend the term of preliminary investigation up to 52 months, that is till February 19, 2007," the PRIME-TASS was told at the Moscow Prosecutor's Office.

On October 23, 2002, 923 spectators and actors of the musical "Nord-Ost" were taken hostage by terrorists. 130 persons died and over 700 suffered health damage. Forty terrorists (21 men and 19 women) were liquidated.