GROZNY. Feb 18 (Interfax) - A criminal case has been opened into an attack on servicemen and police personnel from the Perm region staged in Russia's internal republic of Chechnya 21 years ago; the suspects are three people whose identities have already been established, as well as several as of yet unidentified persons, the press service for the Russian Investigative Committee said.
"Evidence proving these three persons' involvement in the aforementioned crime was obtained during the investigation. A criminal case has been opened against them and a number of as of yet unidentified persons on a count of an attempt on the lives of law enforcement personnel, Article 317 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation," the press service said.
At least 200 people, among them the suspects and other members of illegal armed groups led by Shamil Basayev and Emir Khattab, attacked a convoy of vehicles carrying police officers from the Perm region and servicemen from the Vedeno district's garrison headquarters near the village of Dzhani-Vedeno in Chechnya's Vedeno district on March 29, 2000.
Thirty-three police officers and servicemen were killed in the attack, which continued for at least six hours. Another ten Perm region policemen were taken captive and subsequently killed by militants. Another 102 police officers and servicemen suffered injuries and moral damage as a result of the armed clash.
The roles of the suspects, who have previous convictions, in this crime are being established.