FSB photographs did not convince independent expert

"Additional data" in favor of a connection between Achimez Gochiyayev and Khattab, published by the FSB last week, is even less convincing than the initial material. This is the conclusion reached by an independent expert who studied the new photographs posted on the FSB website. The claim that the bearded militant in Khattab's company is Gochiyayev is the FSB's central argument that Khattab was behind the apartment building bombings in Moscow and Volgodonsk.

British forensic expert John Oxley, after studying the new photographs in comparison with authentic photographs of Gochiyayev, concluded that discrepancies in three fundamental parameters - the shape of the ears, eyes, and teeth - "raise doubts" that Gochiyayev and the bearded militant are the same person.

The forensic examination of the photographs was conducted after the FSB Public Relations Center disputed a statement by Gochiyayev, released by Alexander Litvinenko, that he was not connected to Khattab. Gochiyayev admitted that he rented the basements of the bombed buildings but claims he was used "blindly" by an FSB agent.

This is already the second forensic examination of Gochiyayev's photographs, testifying to the groundlessness of the FSB's version of a "Chechen trace" in the 1999 terrorist attacks. The results of the first examination, which prompted the FSB to publish new photographs, were presented by Alexander Litvinenko during a London-Moscow video link on July 25 at a meeting of the Public Commission on the Apartment Bombings.

Comparison of Features

• Eyes:
  • Gochiyayev: narrow slit, right smaller than left
  • Militant: wide slit, left smaller than right
• Left ear:
  • Gochiyayev: protruding, uneven arc
  • Militant: pressed, smooth arc
• Teeth:
  • Gochiyayev: no gap
  • Militant: clear gap

1/8/2002