Trial of kidnappers of UN representatives starts in Vladikavkaz

The trial of kidnappers of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in the North Caucasus started in the administrative centre in North Ossetia (a republic in the North Caucasus bordering on Chechnya).

Sergei Chochiyev, 26, from Tskhinval (South Ossetia) is in the prisoner's box, the press service of the North Ossetian Supreme Court told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

UN representative Vincent Cochetel (France) was kidnapped in January 1998 in Vladikavkaz. The criminals kidnapped him from the apartment he rented. Cochetel spent two days in a garage and then was taken to Chechnya and handed over to field commander Arbi Barayev. Terrorists demanded 5 million dollars for the liberation of the UN representative. Cochetel was set free in December 1998 as a result of a special operation of the Russian Interior Ministry.

Criminal case against other kidnappers was dismissed because of their death, the press service said.