Expert Examination Findings

To verify this claim, we turned to independent expert Geoffrey John Oxlee (London mobile phone 07970-884-954).

Eight photographs were provided to the independent expert:
* Nos. 1, 2 — posted on the "FSB-Ru" website in the "Wanted" section.
* Four photographs (Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6) received from Gochiyayev.
* Two photographs with Khattab (Nos. 7, 8) posted on the "FSB-Ru" website.

According to the expert's conclusion:
* Gochiyayev is depicted in photographs Nos. 1-6.
* Photographs Nos. 4-6, received by us from Gochiyayev, indeed depict Gochiyayev himself.
* Regarding photographs Nos. 7, 8, where, according to the FSB's claim, Khattab is photographed together with Gochiyayev, the expert examination established that the photographs are not originals and appear to have been subjected to digital processing (in other words, they are "photomontages").
* To the question of whether the person depicted in photographs Nos. 1-6 and photographs Nos. 7-8 is the same person, the expert replied that photographs Nos. 7 and 8 are not forensically reliable and cannot be used as evidence.

Substance of Gochiyayev's Testimony

Gochiyayev provided fairly detailed biographical data about himself (studies, military service, professional position). In addition, he indicated that, starting from 1996, he lived in Moscow at the address Strogino, Marshal Katukov Street, house 6, apt. 188, where he was officially registered. Since 1997, he was the head of the firm "Kapstroy-2000".

Gochiyayev claims that in June 1999 he rented premises for commercial purposes in the basements of the houses that were subsequently blown up, as well as in two other houses where explosions were prevented: in Kapotnya and on Borisov Ponds. He claims that he was used "blindly" to rent these premises by a person whom he knew "from his school days" and who, in his opinion, was an FSB agent.

It was this person who, on the morning of September 9, informed Gochiyayev by telephone about a small fire at his warehouse on Guryanova Street and asked Gochiyayev to arrive at the scene immediately.

After the second explosion on September 13, Gochiyayev realized that the warehouses he had rented were being blown up and immediately