Trial opens of only man charged in Beslan atrocity
Nur-Pashi Kulayev, who did not speak, watched impassively as prosecutors opened the trial by reading a seemingly endless list of victims and relatives and listing the charges of terrorism, murder and others.
“Everything they read today we saw with our own eyes,” said Lyudmila Dzegoyeva, 33, one of the more than 1,200 hostages who were held in a sweltering gymnasium at Beslan School No 1 from September 1 to 3 by more than 30 heavily armed militants.
The raid ended in explosions, gunfire and frightened children fleeing the mayhem that killed more than 330 people, nearly half of them children. Officials say 31 militants were killed.
Deputy prosecutor general Nikolai Shepel read a detailed chronology of the events leading up to and including the seizure. They also listed in excruciating medical detail the injuries suffered by those wounded.
Before the trial began, Kulayev’s appointed lawyer, Albert Pliyev, said he thought his client would get a fair trial. Asked if he feared being attacked by angry relatives for defending Kulayev, Mr Pliyev replied: “Of course, there’s fear.”
In television footage last year, Kulayev was shown confessing to participating in the raid, but said he personally did not kill anyone. He did not speak yesterday.
Like many of those attending, Ms Dzegoyeva said she believed the trial distracted attention from what should be a wider investigation into why authorities failed to detect the preparations for the attack.
Outside the heavily guarded courthouse, at least a dozen people who were unable to get in milled about, some holding signs reading, “Corruption is the Source for Terrorism”.
Holding a sign calling for regional leaders to be put on trial, Ella Kisayeva said Kulayev was just a scapegoat for authorities who she said were truly to blame.
Kulayev faces up to a life sentence if found guilty.
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