From the beginning of operation in Chechnya 145 criminal cases were opened against Russian servicemen

Russian chief military prosecutor Aleksander Savenkov reported at the Thursday meeting in Moscow with Lord Judd, PACE representative, that from the beginning of the counter-terrorist operation in Chechnya 145 criminal cases were filed in relation to crimes against local residents which Russian servicemen were suspected to commit.

According to the prosecutor, 66 accused servicemen were brought to military courts. Investigation of 12 murder cases, of 16 thefts and 8 cases of violation of combat vehicles driving regulations was completed. 34 servicemen, 4 officers among them, were sentenced. Criminal investigation of 18 cases was still underway.

Savenkov stressed that military prosecutors were working in Chechnya in difficult conditions. 10 of them were killed and 1 wounded in the course of the counter-terrorist operation.