Kabardino-Balkaria: seven casualties in special operation

Today at 2:00 p.m. in Kabardino-Balkaria, not far from Gerpegezh village, in the vicinity of Nalchik, a fight burst out between law enforcers and, presumably, militants, as a result of which seven persons were killed. One militiaman was wounded.

According to preliminary information, among the casualties, Zeitun Sultanov, leader of the group, was identified, as well as one of Khamukov brothers suspected of participating in attack on Nalchik on October 13, 2005. The persons of other casualties are still unknown.

According to law enforcement bodies, Zeitun Sultanov, born in 1978, a resident of Khasanya village, was involved in murdering hunters and huntsmen in the forest near Lechinkai village in November 2007. Besides, he was suspected of participating in murdering Anatoly Kyarov, head of the UBOP (Department for Fighting Organized Crime) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) on January 12, 2008.

According to the same sources, members of Sultanov's group were also involved in a number of grave crimes committed with use of firearms against law enforcers and peaceful population, and in terror acts.