On June 30, the Qatar court passed a verdict for two officers of Russian special services, Anatoly Belashkov and Vasily Bogachev, who were found guilty of murdering former leader of Chechen separatists Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev on February 13, 2004.
Early on February 19, 2004 Qatar police arrested three Russian citizens. One of them, first secretary of the Russian embassy in Qatar, was set free due to his diplomatic immunity and returned to Russia in March.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly declared that the Russian citizens are not guilty and demanded their release and return home.
On July 21, the Court of Appeal gathered for its first session on the case but postponed the decision till July 29.
On July 23, Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov visited Qatar and met Crown Prince Tamim bin Hamad. This was the second visit of Igor Ivanov to Qatar after the Russians were arrested.
