MAKHACHKALA. Jan 17 (Interfax-South) - The trial of a group of soldiers began at the Makhachkala garrison's military court on Friday. The servicemen are charged with stealing ammunition, fraud, and criminal negligence that resulted in two deaths.
Seven officers and a soldier from the 136th motor rifle brigade, based in Buynaksk, are accused of stealing a MON-90 anti- personnel mine from the brigade's ammunition depot and passing it on to a Buinaksk resident. Two of the group are lieutenant- colonels.
To cover up the wrongdoing, one of the officers forged office documents.
In addition, one of the defendants is accused of negligence during the planned destruction of deactivated parts of ammunition in the depot on May 21 last year, when failure to take necessary security precautions caused the death of two active service soldiers.
This offence prompted the opening of a separate case resulting from the terrorist attack in Kaspiysk on May 9, in which a MON-90 mine was used. However, the investigation was unable to prove that the stolen mine in question was the same one detonated in the attack.