Beslan Batsiev returns to Dagestan under guarantees of Adaptation Commission

Batsiev Beslan, a native of Dagestan, who during 9 years was on the international search list on charges of belonging to militants, surrendered under the guarantees of the Adaptation Commission, which is helping the people, who decided to stop their terrorist and extremist activities.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 28, 2011, in the city of Makhachkala, the Adaptation Commission considered the application of Beslan Batsiev, who was hiding in Belgium. In conversation with the members of the Commission conducted on the Skype, Batsiev agreed to return to Dagestan.

Rizvan Kurbanov, First Deputy Chairman of the Government of Dagestan and the head of the Adaptation Commission, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that through the painstaking work with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Russian Embassy to Belgium, they managed to ensure Beslan Batsiev's return to Russia; and on October 31 he spoke to the Adaptation Commission. Batsiev reported that in 2003 he was fraudulently involved in an illegal armed formation (IAF). According to his story, he took no part in combat actions; he only cooked food for militants. And three months later, "having realized the meaninglessness of his actions," he left the militants' camp, and, since he feared reprisals from the IAF members and law enforcement bodies, he went to Belgium, where he spent the last 9 years.

At the meeting of the Adaptation Commission, Alexei Savrulin, the head of the Investigatory Committee (IC) of Dagestan, said that he was not familiar with the investigation into the circumstances of the case against Batsiev and that he did not know whether there was evidence that Beslan Batsiev was not involved in terror acts and other crimes; thus, the official cannot be confident whether the guarantees promised by the Commission - not to take Batsiev into custody before trial - should granted to Batsiev.

The position of the head of the Republic's IC was not supported by the members of the Commission. However, Rizvan Kurbanov, First Deputy Chairman of the Government of Dagestan and the head of the Commission, stated that Beslan Batsiev would be responsible before the law, if the investigators would reveal that he was guilty of terror acts and similar crimes. Besides, Rizvan Kurbanov warned Beslan Batsiev about consequences of false testimony.

"If you deceive us that you did not participate in combat actions and other crimes, the Adaptation Commission will be not responsible, and you will bear responsibility under the law," said Rizvan Kurbanov.

"I am one hundred per cent guarantee that I held no weapon in my hands, and I am ready to bear full responsibility for my statements," replied Beslan Batsiev.

Besides, Beslan Batsiev said that he wanted to live in his home land, he was ready to cooperate with the investigators, and he returned to Russia only under the guarantee of the Adaptation Commission.

The meeting of the Commission was also attended by Batsiev's mother and uncle, who vouched for their relative and promised that, till the court session, he would not escape and would help the investigators.

Summarizing the meeting, the Commission decided to apply to the Main Investigatory Department of the Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation in the North-Caucasian Federal District to decide the pre-trial restriction to Batsiev in the form of recognizance not to leave.

Beslan Batsiev will be given a lawyer, and his case will be under personal control of the President of Dagestan, the Adaptation Commission has emphasized.