Chechen terrorist faces capital punishment

The witnesses' testimony has confirmed the bulk of the charges in the legal action filed against Salautdin Temirbulatov, who is believed to be one of the most brutal Chechen terrorists. Today, the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria (a republic in the North Caucasus) is expected to announce its judgement. According to Arsen Bulatov, the head of the press service of the Supreme Court Judicial Department, Mr. Temirbulatov was involved in the brutal execution of Russian captives and in abducting people to ransom, RIA Novosti reports. Salautdin Temirbulatov, dubbed the "traktorist" (tractor driver), was seized by the police as part of the Anti-terror Wirlwind operation near the hamlet of Duba-Yurt in Chechnya last March. He is facing three dozen charges, including murder, kidnapping, banditry, extortion, and engagement in illegal armed groups. Public Prosecutor Vladimir Kravchenko has called on the judges to sentence Mr. Temirbulatov to capital punishment, i.e., execution.