The Blagoveschensk district court of Bashkiria has almost finished hearing the criminal case against former head of the Blagoveschensk Department of Internal Affairs Ildar Ramazanov, deputy commander of the 1st SPF company of the Bashkirian Ministry of the Interior Oleg Sokolov and deputy head of the police department for public safety Oleg Mirzin. The victims’ interests are represented by workers of the Interregional Committee against Torture.
Special Police Forces organized a massive massacre in the small Bashkirian town in December 2004. People from Blagoveschesk applied to the Committee against Torture for help. NGO specialists immediately started investigating the case. As a result of their efforts, criminal proceedings were opened against high-standing law enforcement officials in charge of preventing and terminating such human rights violations. Besides, 341 people were acknowledged victims under the case.
The trial started in 2007. The criminal case was divided into four parts: three proceedings against the private corps, and one – against the key personnel. On 19 February 2010 the court will adjudicate on the case against the senior officers.
The prosecution asks the court to find former head of the Blagoveschensk Department of Internal Affairs Ildar Ramazanov guilty and sentence him to 7 years of imprisonment and prohibition of state service for 2 years; for deputy commander of the 1st SPF company of the Bashkirian Ministry of the Interior Oleg Sokolov the prosecution wants 6 years of imprisonment and a 2-year prohibition of state service; for deputy head of the police department for public safety Oleg Mirzin the prosecution wants 4 years of imprisonment and a 2-year ban of state service.
None of the accused has pled guilty.
Earlier 5 police officers were convicted under this case and sentenced to various periods of imprisonment.
The Interregional Committee against Torture invites mass media to the proclamation of the verdict. The hearing will start at 10.00 a.m. on 19 February 2010 in the Blagoveschensk district court.