Today the Blagoveschensk district court of Bashkiria has once again postponed proclamation of the verdict against former head of the Blagoveschensk District Department of Internal Affairs Ildar Ramazanov, deputy head of the 1st SPF company under the Bashkirian Ministry of the Interior Oleg Sokolov and deputy head of the City Public Security Police Department Oleg Mirzin. The victims’ interests are represented by lawyers of the Interregional Committee against Torture.
The Special Police Forces organized a massacre in a small Bashkirian town in December 2004. The population of Blagoveschensk applied to the Committee against Torture for help. The Committee lawyers immediately opened an investigation into the events. As a result, criminal proceedings were opened against high-standing law enforcement officials who are in charge of preventing and suppressing such human rights violations. Besides, 341 people were acknowledged victims under the case.
The litigation started in 2007. The case was split into four parts: three cases against the private corps, one – against the commanders. On 5 March 2010 the court will adjudicate on the case against the top officers.
The state prosecutions asks to find former head of the Blagoveschensk District Department of Internal Affairs Ildar Ramazanov guilty and sentence him to 7 years of imprisonment with a ban of public service for 2 years; for deputy head of the 1st SPF company under the Bashkirian Ministry of the Interior Oleg Sokolov the prosecution wants 6 years of imprisonment and a ban of public service for 2 years; for deputy head of the City Public Security Police Department Oleg Mirzin – 4 years of imprisonment with a ban of public service for 2 years.
It should be noted that none of the accused has pled guilty.
Earlier 5 police officers were convicted under this case and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.
The Interregional Committee against Torture invites mass media to the proclamation of the verdict. The hearing starts at 10 a.m. on March 5, 2010 in the Blagoveschensk district court.