Stavropol Regional Prosecutor's Office Case

Yesterday, the Stavropol Regional Prosecutor's Office transferred to court the criminal case of Stanislav Lyubichev, a traffic safety propaganda inspector of the DPS company of the Kislovodsk Internal Affairs Directorate's State Traffic Inspectorate (OGAI). Captain Lyubichev is accused of abuse of official powers and accepting a bribe from the terrorists who blew up residential buildings in Moscow and Volgodonsk in 1999.

Case Background

• The criminal case against Stanislav Lyubichev was initiated in September of last year and is directly related to the apartment bombings that resulted in the deaths of 240 people.
• The name of the ill-fated traffic policeman came to light after the interrogations of the perpetrators of these terrorist acts, Adam Dekkushev and Yusuf Krymshamkhalov.
• Both terrorists were extradited from Georgia after repeated demands from the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia.
• Once in 'Lefortovo', they gave testimony that allowed the investigation to establish quite accurately how the preparations for the bombings took place and, in particular, how the explosives were delivered from the North Caucasus to the capital.

Details of the Incident

• The explosive mixture of TNT, aluminum powder, and granulated sugar was manufactured in Urus-Martan (Chechnya), then sent in 'KamAZ' trucks in sugar bags to Pyatigorsk, where Krymshamkhalov's uncle worked at a food base.
• From there, the cargo was supposed to proceed to Moscow and Volgodonsk in two other vehicles.
• However, the traffic police did not immediately allow the 'KamAZ' into the resort town of Kislovodsk; after an accident, it had a broken headlight, bumper, and fender, and the license plate was placed under the windshield of the cabin.
• The terrorists' accomplice, Ruslan Magayaev (currently under investigation), failed to reach an agreement with the guards, but Senior Lieutenant Lyubichev came to his aid.
• For a bag of real sugar, which at that time cost 450 rubles, he himself got behind the wheel of the truck and drove it past the post.
• Dekkushev and Krymshamkhalov watched all this from a 'Moskvich' (which, by the way, was listed as stolen) in which they were escorting the 'KamAZ'.

Statements and Court Proceedings

• Boris Stukavin, head of the judicial affairs department of the regional prosecutor's office, told "Kommersant": 'We were unable to prove that Lyubichev knew there were explosives in the car (a total of 2688 kilograms in TNT equivalent — "Kommersant"),' but the fact that he maliciously abused his official powers is beyond doubt. His job was to monitor the road, not to drive vehicles.'
• Viktor Belikov, a judge of the Kislovodsk City Court who was assigned to handle this case, stated that it will take him two to three weeks to familiarize himself with the materials.
• Mr. Belikov added: 'The trial will most likely begin in the 20s of March,' and 'will take quite a lot of time.'
• The judge plans for terrorists Dekkushev, Krymshamkhalov, and Magayaev to testify as witnesses.
• When asked where the accused Lyubichev is now, Judge Belikov replied that the officer is serving in the GAI and was recently promoted to the rank of captain.
• Prosecutor Stukavin, saying that the accused Lyubichev was a good policeman and did not even have any reprimands in service, reported that after the criminal case was initiated, he was dismissed from the police.
• The head of the Kislovodsk GAI, Georgy Kulko, refused to speak at all about his subordinate, who faces a seven-year sentence.

Contacts

• Orkhan (Geydarovich) DZHEMAL: 8-5012226187
• Boris Arkadyevich KOZHEMYAKIN, lawyer who defended Maxim Lazovsky: 423-11-59 h.
• Mikhail Aleksandrovich LAMTSOV ("AiF", crime chronicle department, published the article "Beardless Imam Gochiyayev"): 923-70-86 w.
• Mikh. Trepashkin: 114-51-84 h.