Volume 25

...various items at their request, made purchases, in particular, bought about 300 bags at the Erken-Shakhar sugar factory, etc. I understood that they were making explosives. I asked where the explosives would go, but they avoided answering. I thought they would be sent to Chechnya. We finished making the explosives quickly – in about 10 days. Then we put them in a shed in Karabasheva's yard. Then Yoska Krymshamkhalov arranged for us to transport this mixture to 'Realbaza', as it was dangerous to keep it at home. At that time, elections were taking place and there were rumors that the police might check houses. The transport of the mixture took place in the 20s of August 1999.

Soon Gochiyayev arrived. He was supposed to take the explosives, but he did not take all of them and suggested that I be responsible for storing the remaining part. I did not know where Gochiyayev would take the mixture. I argued with him and refused to take the explosives for myself. I went to Serzhen-Yurt. There I was met by Abu-Umar, who told me to take the remaining explosives and blow them up in a crowded place in Krasnodar, Rostov, or any other large city. He explained to me that this was being done so that the Russian authorities would stop their troops in Dagestan, where fighting was taking place at that time. I said that I did not want to blow up people and suggested blowing up the dam of the reservoir near the city of Volgodonsk. Abu Umar did not offer me money for the work, but I understood that I was already involved in a crime and could not refuse him. Abu Umar told me to buy two inexpensive cars, rig them with explosives, and place them in two different locations. At the same time, he said that he would later return the money we spent.

On the same day, I went home. Zaur Batchayev, a Tatar named Islam, and an Ingush left with Gochiyayev; only Timur Batchayev remained. I asked him where...