Russian judges are set to hear criminal cases in Chechnya as part of Moscow-backed plans to restore a judicial fabric to the rebel republic, Interfax reported Tuesday.
Twenty-two judges have been recruited from different regions of the Russian federation and are currently familiarizing themselves with the details of cases in 10 regions of Chechnya, the news agency reported.
Documents relating to the first criminal case to be heard in Chechnya were handed to the judges by the republic's pro-Moscow administrator Akhmad Kadyrov, and its Russian military commander Ivan Babichev, at a meeting last week.
Court hearings of crimes committed in Chechnya have until now been held in neighboring regions, such as Russia's Stavropol territory, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria and North Ossetia.
The jurisdiction of the judges will include the whole range of legal proceedings from criminal cases to civil and domestic affairs, Interfax reported.
Nearly 250 soldiers have been convicted of various crimes in Chechnya since federal troops launched an "anti-terrorist" campaign against separatist rebels in the republic 15 months ago, the Kremlin confirmed last week.
A total of 248 servicemen, including 21 officers, were convicted of the crimes by Russia's military tribunal. Another 115 cases are still being investigated, the Kremlin said -- MOSCOW (AFP)
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