22:59, 19 February 2007

Cossack Ataman Khanin buried in Stavropol Territory

Today, the town of Novoalexandrovsk (Stavropol Territory) has held the burial ceremony of Andrei Khanin, Ataman of Nizhnekubanskiy Cossack Branch of the Tersk Cossack Army, who died as a result of an attempt, which has caused nationalist-motivated public disturbances.

Deputy Evgeniy Trofimov, chair of the State Duma Committee for Nationalities' Matters, has promised that in connection with the murder the Russian Ministry of Interior will hold inquiry into operation of the bodies of power of the Novoalexandrovsk District.

A murder attempt on A. Khanin was committed about 9:00 p.m. Moscow time on February 13. An unknown person shot him twice at the head, and then disappeared. In the coma condition A. Khanin was brought to resuscitation ward of the District hospital, where he died on February 17 without recovering consciousness.

A suspect of murder has been detained. The Office of Public Prosecutor of the Territory states that personal enmity was the motive of the crime.

Author: Elena Kostenko, CK correspondent