Human rights activists consider Kulaev's verdict justified

Representatives of Russian and foreign human rights organizations consider the verdict passed on Friday in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia, with regard to Nurpashi Kulaev, involved in the terrorist act in Beslan, as justified.

"Life sentence is the severest punishment in Russia. Such sentence is justified with regard to a participant of such terrible crime," stated Oleg Orlov, head of the "Memorial" human rights centre, to "Interfax."

He underlined that, under the conditions of a moratorium on the death penalty in Russia, life sentence remained maximum punishment.

For reference, the Supreme Court of North Ossetia has found Kulaev, the Beslan terrorist, guilty on all items of his charge and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The sentence announced by Judge Tamerlan Aguzarov states that the guilt of Kulaev in committing the terrorist act has been proved. "That is, in committing an explosion and other acts aimed at violating public safety," runs the sentence. The sentence also states that Kulaev's pleading not guilty is ungrounded because it is completely refuted by the evidence of witnesses and his own testimony given during the preliminary investigation.

The sentence started to be announced on May 16 and lasted for eight days.

Meanwhile, the investigation of the Beslan tragedy has not been finished. As has been stated by Alexander Torshin, chairman of the parliamentary commission on the Beslan tragedy investigation and vice-Speaker of the Council of Federation, the commission has a lot of work ahead.

On the previous day, May 25, Yuri Saveliyev, Russian State Duma deputy, submitted to the parliamentary commission a draft of his own analysis of the events which had taken place in the course of releasing the hostages captured in the Beslan school. On the basis of an analysis of video records, photographs and witnesses' testimonies, Saveliyev drew a conclusion that the special task unit had used heavy weapons while the hostages were still in the building, reports NEWSru.com. This scenario contradicts the official conclusion of the General Prosecutor's Office according to which heavy weapons were used only when it had become clear that there were no hostages, still alive, in the building. It is unclear whether the Saveliyev's opinion will be included into the parliamentary commission report.

As a result of seizure of school number one in Beslan on September 1-3, 2004, the terrorists captured 1120 people. During the secret operation, 918 people were rescued. In its course 331 people were killed, including 317 hostages 186 of whom were children, two employees of the Ministry of Emergencies, 10 officers of the FSS and one resident of Beslan who had taken part in rescuing the hostages. 728 hostages and 55 officers of the FSS, internal affairs agencies and military servicemen were wounded.