Special operation over in Nalchik: Russia's sambo champion among casualties

Today by 5:00 p.m., the special operation in Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, aimed to liquidate a group of militants, was over; there were two of them, not four, as supposed earlier. There is no official information about the liquidated bandits, however, Zaur Krymukov, head of the division for fighting extremism, said that there was no militants leader Anzor Astemirov among the casualties, but there was Murat Ristov, Russia's champion in sambo (art of self-defence, Russian style of wrestling) in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

According to unofficial informal information, as a result of explosions in the apartment the bodies are strongly mutilated; and genetic examination will be needed to identify them.

However, according to other sources, law enforcers know the casualties, as the operation was prepared in advance, and the suspects were shadowed.

This fact was indirectly confirmed by the tenants of the house, where the operation was conducted. According to one of them, "the district militiaman came five or six times during the last month and asked about the lodgers from flat No. 12. However, the latter very seldom appeared in the flat they rented."

It has become known to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that one of the casualties is Murat Ristov, born in 1983, a native of Karachaevo-Circassia and a resident of Maikop. According to spokesman of the United Information Centre of Law Enforcement Bodies of Kabardino-Balkaria, Murat Ristov was known to law enforcers as an adherent of radical Islam involved in terrorist activities. "We were just about to announce him into federal search," said the source.

In March this year, Murat Ristov, a master of sports and champion of Russia in sambo, was mentioned in militia reports in the context of detention of three militants in a complex special operation in Tyrnyauz. Then, residents of Karachaevo-Circassia Shamil Mambetov and Rustam Gogov were detained, but Ristov managed to escape after detention. Later, Mambetov wrote in his letters addressed to Yuri Chaika, General Public Prosecutor of the Russian Federation, Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", Russian Ombudsman and Public Prosecutor of Kabardino-Balkaria that he was beaten during detention and later tortured. Torture was also stated by Ristov, who was in hiding, and because of fear for his life he addressed Oleg Zharikov, Public Prosecutor of Kabardino-Balkaria.