22:43, 3 March 2004

Zamoskvoretsky Court of Moscow denies complaint by Movement for Human Rights

The complaint was lodged at the instance of former hostages and relatives of the people killed in the Theatre Center on Dubrovka in 2002. (Editor's note: A hearing on the complaint was put off from February 24 to March 2.) They demand that three cases should be investigated separately: the illegal use of a narcotic substance fentanyl, the lack of opportune medical aid, and the ungrounded murder of all terrorist. The court substantiated its denial by saying the Movement for Human Rights could not represent interests of the victims in court as it was not a legal plaintiff. The leader of the movement, Lev Ponomarev, said he would appeal this decision in the Moscow City Court.

Editors note: See also the article "Moscow Prosecutor's Office will have to ground legality of actions during storm of "Nord-Ost"".

Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty