A native of Chechnya was sentenced to 16 years for the death of Pskov paratroopers

The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Alavdi Batykaev from Grozny guilty and sentenced him to 16 years in prison. According to investigators, in 1999 he joined the illegal armed formation of the self-proclaimed Chechen Republic of Ichkeria under the leadership of Shamil Basayev and Khattab.

Batykaev allegedly participated in an attack on servicemen of the sixth parachute company of the 104th regiment of the 76th Pskov Airborne Division near the village of Ulus-Kert. Then 84 federal soldiers were killed.

64-year-old Alavdi Batykaev denies his involvement in the crime. The main evidence of the prosecution is the testimony of secret witnesses. The Memorial Center believes that the man was convicted without grounds. According to human rights activists, identical testimonies from relatives of Russian servicemen are presented in almost all criminal cases brought against natives of Chechnya on charges of participating in the attack on paratroopers. People repeat the official version or talk about the lives of their relatives before the incriminated events. According to Memorial, there is also a series of pieces of evidence proving Batykayev's innocence. These are testimonies and interrogation protocols of himself, fellow villagers, acquaintances and relatives. They confirmed that he was a civilian at the time of the incriminated crime.

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