Written Testimonies

Below are published the written testimonies of A. Gochiyayev, given to us on April 24, 2002, in full, preserving the author's original spelling and punctuation.

April 24, 2002 [ZAGS]

My name is Gochiyayev Achemez Shagabanovich. I was born on September 28, 1970, in the city of Karachaevsk, KChR (formerly Stavropol Krai). [Sec. school No. 3] [GUVD Karachaevsk]

• Until the age of 16, I lived in the city of Karachaevsk, graduated from secondary school No. 3, and lived at the address: Kurdzhieva St. 14, apt. 34.
• After finishing school, I went to study in Moscow, where I enrolled in PTU No. 67, which was located at the "Pervomayskaya" station.
• A year later, I graduated from the vocational school and was drafted into the army.
• Then, in the Strategic Missile Forces, I underwent training in Belarus for six months, and served the rest in Siberia, Altai Krai, Pervomaysky settlement.
• After the army, I stayed at home for about two years, then returned to Moscow, worked, and tried to engage in commerce.
• In 1996, I got married and received a residence permit; I am registered at: [OVD] Strogino, Marshal Katukov St. 6, apt. 188.
• In 1997, I opened my own firm, engaged in the construction of cottages and trade. The firm was called "Kapstroy 2000". [Reg. Chamber]

As for the FSB's claim that I am the organizer of the Moscow bombings, that I am connected with Basayev and Khattab, and that they paid me $500,000 for these bombings, and that I underwent training in a camp in Urus-Martan—all these claims are an absolute lie.

I have never had anything to do with the FSB or other similar structures.

As I wrote earlier, I lived and worked in Moscow; in June 1999, a person came to my firm whom I knew very well, since my school days. He suggested we go into business together; he said he had good opportunities for selling food products. First, he ordered mineral water from me; I brought it to him, he sold it, and settled the account with me on time. Then he told me that he needed premises in the southeast of Moscow where he supposedly had distribution points.

I helped him realize [secure/rent] these premises on Guryanova, on Kashirka, Borisovskie Prudy, and Kapotnya. On September 9, I was visiting someone, and at about 5 in the morning, this person called my mobile and said that there was a small fire at the warehouse on Guryanova and I needed to go there. I said I would come and started getting ready, turned on the TV, and saw what had actually happened, and I decided not to go anywhere and to wait it out. On September 13, when the explosion of the house on...