Confession of a Terrorist

Yesterday, the Moscow City Court began the trial of Chechen Aslanbek Khaskhanov, accused of the bombing near the McDonald's restaurant in Southwest Moscow in October 2002. To the traditional question of whether he pleads guilty, the defendant unexpectedly answered in the affirmative. "Yes, I committed the crime, but I do not agree with the charges. I will explain later," Khaskhanov said. At the same time, he asked to be excused from testifying. "I ask to be excused from testifying due to my health condition. I have a headache," the defendant said. In addition, he asked the court to order a repeat forensic psychiatric evaluation for sanity. However, the court denied Khaskhanov's request, as a commission of doctors from the clinic where he was being treated had issued a conclusion on his sanity. Yesterday, the prosecutor read the indictment, after which a recess was announced in the trial until June 21. It is expected that the questioning of victims will begin at the next session.

The Incident

• On October 19, 2002, a "Tavria" car was blown up near the McDonald's building on Pokryshkin Street in Moscow.
• As a result of the explosion, one person died and eight were injured.
• Serious damage was caused to the restaurant building.
• The investigation established that this terrorist act was linked to the hostage-taking at the Theater Center on Dubrovka.
• However, the criminal case regarding the McDonald's bombing was later separated from the main case and considered separately.

Subsequent Proceedings

• Charges within its framework were brought against five Chechens.
• During that trial, all the defendants recanted the confessions given during the preliminary investigation, claiming they were pressured.
• On April 27, 2004, the Moscow City Court issued a guilty verdict for four defendants in this case.
• Sentences included:
  • Aslan Murdalov: 20 years of imprisonment
  • Alikhan Mezhiev: 22 years
  • Akhyad Mezhiev: 18 years of imprisonment
  • Khampash Sobraliev: 15 years in prison
• By court decision, Aslanbek Khaskhanov was sent for compulsory treatment to a psychiatric clinic in the village of Sychevka, Smolensk Region.
• According to the experts' conclusion, Khaskhanov was in a reactive state at that time, meaning he had a temporary mental disorder that does not exempt the accused from responsibility.
• Recently, a commission of doctors at the Sychevka hospital found Khaskhanov sane, in connection with which he has also appeared before the court.

RIA NOVOSTI

Please provide the raw OCR text you would like me to format.