Zelimkhan Aushev, convicted in the 2009 “Nevsky Express” train bombing, has unsuccessfully attempted to challenge his life sentence, arguing it effectively eliminates any possibility of release and violates his rights. The Third Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction terminated proceedings, stating the verdict had already been appealed and entered into legal force.

Aushev, serving his sentence in the “Vologodsky Pyatak” special regime colony, filed a lawsuit claiming his life sentence is “de facto non-reducible,” deprives him of the prospect of freedom, “degrades human dignity,” and causes “moral suffering.” Although parole is legally possible after 25 years of imprisonment, Aushev must wait approximately 12 more years to apply.

The courts of first instance and appellate instance initially rejected Aushev’s claim. The Third Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction overturned these decisions, but ultimately terminated the proceedings rather than ruling in Aushev’s favor. The court emphasized that the legality of Aushev’s punishment could not be reassessed, as the verdict had completed all necessary stages of appeal and gained legal force.

The “Nevsky Express” bombing, which occurred on November 28, 2009, between the Tver and Novgorod regions, resulted in 28 fatalities and over 90 injuries. Zelimkhan Aushev, along with nine individuals with the surname Kartoyev, all natives of Ingushetia, were brought to trial. In 2012, they received sentences ranging from seven years to life imprisonment. Aushev, along with Beslan, Murad, and Tatarhan Kartoyev, received the maximum penalty.

Investigators stated that training materials for manufacturing explosive devices, an assembled detonator similar to the one used in the bombing, firearms, and components of explosives were found in the possession of the defendants.

The investigation linked the “Nevsky Express” bombing to a group led by Said Buryatsky, an ideologist of radical Wahhabism and alleged creator of the terrorist organization “Muslim Brotherhood”. Doku Umarov, leader of the banned terrorist structure “Imarat Kavkaz”, claimed responsibility for the attack even before the defendants were apprehended.

*Included in the list of Rosfinmonitoring as organizations for which there is information about involvement in terrorism or extremism