Brief Factual Information

Based on materials from A. Litvinenko and Y. Felshtinsky, provided to the Commission on the apartment bombings via teleconference from London on July 25, 2002.

Events and Statements

• In March-April 2002, Litvinenko and Felshtinsky had contacts with Gochiyayev through intermediaries.
• Gochiyayev provided confirmation of his identity and written explanations of the events of September 1999.
• The authenticity of Gochiyayev's identity is not in doubt.
• Gochiyayev denies any connection with Khattab and Basayev, and claims that he is not the person depicted in the group photo with Khattab posted on the FSB website.
• An independent expert examination confirmed that the person photographed with Khattab cannot be identified.
• Gochiyayev admits that he rented premises on Kashirskoye Highway, Guryanova St., in Kapotnya, and on Borisovskie Prudy.
• He claims that he was used "blindly" by his business partner—a person who, as he now believes, was an FSB agent.
• Gochiyayev claims that it was he who warned the authorities about the planted explosives in Kapotnya and on Borisovskie Prudy, thereby preventing new terrorist attacks.
• Since then, Gochiyayev has been in hiding, as he fears for his life.

Recommendations

Litvinenko and Felshtinsky recommend that the Commission conduct a series of investigative actions that could confirm or refute Gochiyayev's testimony.

In particular, it is proposed to verify the circumstances of the discovery of explosive devices in Kapotnya and on Borisovskie Prudy, such as:

• Tape recordings of reports to the police, ambulance, and rescue services.
• The chronology of the discovery, its participants, and the role of various agencies, including special services, in these episodes.