2002 Kaspiysk bombing
Encyclopedia
2002 Kaspiysk bombing was a May 9, 2002, attack which ripped through the military parade to commemorate the 57th anniversary of Soviet victory in the World War II
on Lenin Street in the city of Kaspiysk
, Dagestan
Forty four people, including at least 19 soldiers and 12 children, were killed and 133 wounded in the explosion. The explosive device represented MON-50
directional landmine enhanced for greater destructive capability .
mine, similar to that detonated on May 9. During the arrest, the suspects presented papers from Dagestan's Ministry of Internal affairs and said that police had no right to arrest them. Further investigation was blocked by the Russian state security service FSB, and the director of the service, Patrushev announced that "the arrested parties had no connection with terrorists". Further fate of these suspects, one of whom was identified as Rashid Dzabrailov, remains unknown
. Khalilov allegedly sent his envoy named Kazim Abdurakhmanov to Dagestan to organize the bombing. Abdurakhmanov offered Abdulkhalim Abdulkarimov to join the terror plot, and Abdulkarimov agreed. Another militant, Dzhamal Turulayev, ordered Murad Abdurazakov to build the remotely controlled land mine
-based bomb. The bomb was delivered to the potential explosion spot by Khanali Umakhanov. Abdulkarimov was videotaping the bomb installation, while Turulayev triggered the explosion by remote control.
However, on July 1, 2005, the jury
found Abdulkhalim Abdulkarimov and Murad Abdurazakov not guilty of participating in the bombing. They were found guilty on other charges, such as participating in illegal armed formations, possessing weapons and counterfeit
ing documents, and they were sentenced to 14 years (Abdurazakov) and 11 years (Abdulkarimov) of imprisonment.
Khanali Umakhanov was also found not guilty of most of the charges he was facing in court (including terrorism
) on October 20, 2005. He was found guilty of transporting the remote control device that triggered the bomb and sentenced to four years in prison, but the jury decided he did not know how the device was going to get used. The sentence was later reduced to two years on appeal
and he was released. After release, he sued the Russian government for being torture
d when in custody and unlawful prosecution. On October 10, 2007, the court found the government liable and awarded him 5,000,000 rubles (approx. USD 200,000) in punitive damages. The award was reduced to 3,000,000 rubles on appeal.
Six Russian soldiers from units deployed at Buinaksk in Dagestan were also arrested for allegedly selling an anti-personnel mine
to the men who carried out the attack. They were put on trial in January 2003.
As of December 2009, none of the other people who were still wanted by the law enforcement in connection with the plot (including Turulayev and Abdurakhmanov) have been arrested. The alleged mastermind, Rappani Khalilov was killed in Dagestan on September 18, 2007.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on Lenin Street in the city of Kaspiysk
Kaspiysk
Kaspiysk , until 1947 known as Dvigatelstroy , is a city in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia, located on the Caspian Sea, southeast of Makhachkala. Population: 43,000 ....
, Dagestan
Dagestan
The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and the largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea...
Forty four people, including at least 19 soldiers and 12 children, were killed and 133 wounded in the explosion. The explosive device represented MON-50
MON-50
The MON-50 is a claymore shaped , plastic bodied, directional type of anti-personnel mine designed and manufactured by Russia. It is designed to wound or kill by explosive fragmentation...
directional landmine enhanced for greater destructive capability .
Related events
On May 16 Kaspiysk police announced that another terrorist attack had been prevented. Three terrorists were caught while planting a MON-100MON-100
The MON-100 is a circular, sheet metal bodied, directional type of anti-personnel mine designed and manufactured in Russia. It is designed to wound or kill by fragmentation and resembles a large bowl.-Design:...
mine, similar to that detonated on May 9. During the arrest, the suspects presented papers from Dagestan's Ministry of Internal affairs and said that police had no right to arrest them. Further investigation was blocked by the Russian state security service FSB, and the director of the service, Patrushev announced that "the arrested parties had no connection with terrorists". Further fate of these suspects, one of whom was identified as Rashid Dzabrailov, remains unknown
Investigation
According to the indictment brought after the investigation, the explosion was organized by the Dagestani militant Rappani KhalilovRappani Khalilov
Rappani Khalilov , also known as Rabbani, was the militant leader of the Shariat Jamaat of the Caucasian Front during the Second Chechen War, in the volatile southern Russian republic of Dagestan...
. Khalilov allegedly sent his envoy named Kazim Abdurakhmanov to Dagestan to organize the bombing. Abdurakhmanov offered Abdulkhalim Abdulkarimov to join the terror plot, and Abdulkarimov agreed. Another militant, Dzhamal Turulayev, ordered Murad Abdurazakov to build the remotely controlled land mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
-based bomb. The bomb was delivered to the potential explosion spot by Khanali Umakhanov. Abdulkarimov was videotaping the bomb installation, while Turulayev triggered the explosion by remote control.
However, on July 1, 2005, the jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
found Abdulkhalim Abdulkarimov and Murad Abdurazakov not guilty of participating in the bombing. They were found guilty on other charges, such as participating in illegal armed formations, possessing weapons and counterfeit
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
ing documents, and they were sentenced to 14 years (Abdurazakov) and 11 years (Abdulkarimov) of imprisonment.
Khanali Umakhanov was also found not guilty of most of the charges he was facing in court (including terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
) on October 20, 2005. He was found guilty of transporting the remote control device that triggered the bomb and sentenced to four years in prison, but the jury decided he did not know how the device was going to get used. The sentence was later reduced to two years on appeal
Appeal
An appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition is made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court's decision....
and he was released. After release, he sued the Russian government for being torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
d when in custody and unlawful prosecution. On October 10, 2007, the court found the government liable and awarded him 5,000,000 rubles (approx. USD 200,000) in punitive damages. The award was reduced to 3,000,000 rubles on appeal.
Six Russian soldiers from units deployed at Buinaksk in Dagestan were also arrested for allegedly selling an anti-personnel mine
Anti-personnel mine
Anti-personnel mines are a form of land mine designed for use against humans, as opposed to anti-tank mines, which are designed for use against vehicles...
to the men who carried out the attack. They were put on trial in January 2003.
As of December 2009, none of the other people who were still wanted by the law enforcement in connection with the plot (including Turulayev and Abdurakhmanov) have been arrested. The alleged mastermind, Rappani Khalilov was killed in Dagestan on September 18, 2007.