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Today's paper. Last Updated: 06/03/2012

Prosecutor Opens Terekhov Inquiry

The military prosecutor's office confirmed Monday that it has reopened a criminal case against a hardline nationalist leader, who in February was amnestied for his role in the last fall's armed anti-government uprising.


The case involves Stanislav Terekhov, head of the Union of Officers, accused of attacking the Commonwealth of Independent States' military headquarters in September. Two people died and a third was injured during an exchange of gunfire during the attack.


"We must be completely sure that the actions of Terekhov are covered by the amnesty," said Yury Bagrayev, acting head of the military prosecutor's investigation department. "Not everything about Terekhov's actions had been explained when the amnesty decision was taken."


Terekhov said in an interview Monday that he was angered by the investigation and is considering acts of civil disobedience. On Wednesday his group plans to picket the State Duma, he said.


"They are acting illegally," Terekhov said. "If they do not stop this lawless violation, we will take further measures."


Parliament released Terekhov and other leaders of the October uprising from prison in an amnesty in February. But unlike the former vice president, Alexander Rutskoi, and other White House leaders, Terekhov was arrested during the last week of September, 10 days before the stand-off exploded into street fighting on October 3 and 4 and left hundreds dead.


The Duma's February decree appeared to include Terekhov as it referred to those "involved in the Sept. 21 - October 4 standoff." It included acts such as "the carrying, preservation and illegal obtaining of weapons, ammunition and explosive substances."


However, Bagrayev of the military prosecutor's office said his investigation would ask whether or not Terekhov acted independently of the parliament rebels in his attack.


Terekhov did spend several days in the White House after President Boris Yeltsin banned the old Supreme Soviet in September. The military leader's role was that of coordinator of a rag-tag group of volunteers in defending the building, he said at the time.


Terekhov's superior during the siege, Vladislav Achalov, said in an interview Monday that military investigators were seeking to harass Terekhov and others despite the amnesty.


"They want to keep their hands on our pulse, and, of course, they will do everything they can to arrest Terekhov, perhaps even me; they are afraid," said Achalov, who was the rebel parliament's defense minister. "They are afraid of the people around us. We are not Zhirinovsky's party that stages rallies. We are officers, people who are already tired of all of this."




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