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May 26, 2006

Russia: Beslan Islamist Gets Life Imprisonment

Today the Times reports that Nur-Pashi Kulayev (pictured), the only one of the terrorists involved in the Beslan school massacre to remain alive, was sentenced to life imprisonment. At a court in Vladikavkaz, capital of the republic of North Ossettia, the judge, Tamalen Aguzarov said: "Kulayev deserves the death penalty, but is sentenced to life in prison because a moratorium is in place."

A ten year moratorium on the death penalty is currently in place, but according to Interfax-Religion, the head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, and leader or "Metropolitan" of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kirill said the sentence was fair.

He said: "As you know, the court thoroughly examined the case. I believe that the court's sentence is fair. Terrorism is a terrible evil, which must be eradicated and punished.If society is unable to punish this evil, we are bound to witness an ever-growing number of new evil deeds."

He added that a substitute for the death penalty in Russia should be found. He said: "The Church's position is that evil and crime must be punished and justice must prevail."

The court had deliberated for eight days before the verdict was delivered. When it was announced, mothers who had lost children in the siege tried to attack the cage in which Kulayev was held.

Outside the court, some relatives held banners reading: "There is no forgiveness of the authorities who let Beslan happen."

The tragedy began on September 1, 2004, when 1,000 children, parents and teachers were held hostage in their school by Chechen rebels, who were apparently acting on the orders of Shamil Basayev, who has since admitted responsibility for the attack. Basayev is still on the run.

Three days after the siege began, a gun battle started between hostage-takers and security forces, and a bomb rigged in the gymnasium, where many hostages were held, was set off. 31 hostage-takers were killed in the operation. Amongst the victims there were 186 young children killed. Because of the heat they were stripped to their underwear.

Government inquiries are still going on into the causes and outcome of the Beslan incident, which are expected to be completed later this year.

Keywords: Nur-Pashi Kulayev, Nurpasha Kulayev

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at May 26, 2006 8:57 AM

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