HEXOGEN TRAIL

INVESTIGATION

"Novaya Gazeta" continues its journalistic investigation into the circumstances of the terrorist attacks in Moscow, Volgodonsk, and Buynaksk, which claimed the lives of hundreds of people in 1999.

Based on the results of previous publications concerning, in particular, the FSB "exercises" in Ryazan, we asked many questions of our special services, most of which remain unanswered.

In these three years, much has happened: another war in Chechnya, a series of terrorist attacks in Dagestan, the hostage-taking at Dubrovka; the exiled oligarch Berezovsky began conducting his own investigation and enlisted former FSB officer Litvinenko for this purpose. A State Duma deputy commission has been created and is active.

There are many versions. Even more propaganda and counter-propaganda comments, from all sides. There is a lack of facts.

Strange materials have reached the editorial office of "Novaya Gazeta." A video recording of the testimony of GRU Senior Lieutenant Alexei Galkin, in which he admitted the involvement of special services in the terrorist attacks; a statement by the terrorists whose composite sketches can still be seen on the streets of Moscow — Krymshamkhalov and Batchaev — in which they admit their involvement in the apartment bombings.

A week ago ("Novaya Gazeta" No. 89), we published a transcript of the videotape with the interview of the GRU officer. Our correspondents managed to meet with him three years after he was captured by Chechen militants and was able to escape. It turned out: he gave this testimony under torture.

We are publishing the second document today. We are also trying to clarify the circumstances of its origin. "Novaya Gazeta" will continue its journalistic investigation in order to eventually figure out: what actually happened in 1999 in Moscow, Volgodonsk, Buynaksk, and Ryazan, who is responsible for this, and what in the series of these tragedies, now entangled in a mass of rumors and assumptions, is the truth and what is a lie.