Criminal case launched in connection with the crash of Mi-8 military helicopter in Chechnya

A criminal case has been opened under Articles 105 (murder) and 205 (terrorism) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in connection with the crash of the MI-8 military helicopter which occurred at 16:50, Moscow time, yesterday on the outskirts of the Chechen capital of Grozny.

A RIA Novosti correspondent was told on Monday by a source in the Main Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation that the investigation had established that the helicopter was shot down when taking off from the aerodrome in Khankala at a height of 700 metres from a portable ground-to-air system. The helicopter had on its board three members of the crew and six servicemen of the 58th army of the Russian Defence Ministry. All of them died.

The source pointed out that two MI-24 helicopters shelled the supposed area of the militants' presence. According to the preliminary data, two bandits were killed. The operations are going on for finding the organisers and accomplices in the crime. Investigation is underway.