"Memorial" presents a report on preconditions of armed revolt in Nalchik in 2005

Today, the Moscow Independent Press Centre held a press conference - presentation of the report prepared by the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" and entitled: "Kabardino-Balkaria: On the Way to Catastrophe. Preconditions Armed Revolt in Nalchik on October 13-14, 2005". The report is based on 3 years of field work in Kabardino-Balkaria, interviews with local residents, power agencies and representatives of the authorities.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that along with the author of the document Alexander Zhukov, representatives of the HRC "Memorial" Alexander Cherkasov and Oleg Orlov have shared their analysis of what had happened and current situation in the Republic.

Alexander Cherkasov has emphasized the importance of the researches made. On the eve of the tragic events in Nalchik, the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) was presented as a sort of a model region from the safety viewpoint.

The author Alexander Zhukov has reminded that on October 13, 2005, more than 150 armed persons attacked 12 objects, generally power agencies, military and civil objects of Nalchik. 97 attackers were killed, together with 35 employees of law enforcement bodies and 14 peaceful residents. "However, it was found out that many of the attackers just couldn't use firearms and had little resemblance to militants who had gone out of the woods. What had forced them to take up their arms?" asked Mr Zhukov.

Later, it became clear that most of them were members of the local Muslim community - the Kabardino-Balkarian Jama'at. Only after October 14, 2005, facts of mass violations of human rights of Jama'at members were opened: illegal searches, mockeries, tortures, including of women.

Under the case on 2005 armed collisions, the investigation attracted 58 convicts; now they are 57, as one of them died.

Two advocates from the "Memorial" are working with three defendants, who have strong alibis and obviously have nothing to do with the armed attack on power agencies. Now, the advocates state that after this February they have no contacts with their clients - the SIZO administration is hampering by all means.