NALCHIK. Jan 27 (Interfax) - Investigators in Russia's republic of Kabardino-Balkaria will soon forward criminal cases opened against several extremist groups suspected of staging attacks on officers of law enforcement services to court.
"Measures taken in close cooperation with the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service helped dismantle the activities of the "Urvansky Dzhamaat", which was set up with the aim of killing governmental officials and officers of law enforcement services. Seven members of armed groups have been arrested," Valery Ustov, head of the Kabardino-Balkaria branch of Russian prosecutors' Investigative Committee, said on Wednesday.
"We have proved their involvement in four murders, including the murders of police officers. Their cases will be sent to the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria in January or February," Ustov said.
An investigation against four more members of gangs is in its final stages, the official said, adding that these cases will be forwarded to court in the near future.
Detained militants have told investigators that most attacks on governmental officials were planned and coordinated by Anzor Astemirov, who is wanted by the authorities for masterminding an armed raid on the republic's capital Nalchik in autumn 2005, Ustov said.
The goal of local militant leaders is to destabilize Kabardino- Balkaria and to disrupt the federal authorities' control over the republic, he said.