Albert Pliev Lawyer for the only detained participant in the Beslan school seizure Date of Birth: 01.01.1978 Country: Russia

1. Background and Education
2. Advocate in Notorious Cases
3. Appointment to Defend Kulaev
4. Challenges in the Trial
5. Controversy and Appeal

Background and Education

Albert Pliev, born in 1978 in Vladikavkaz, Northern Ossetia, is a renowned lawyer in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. His father, Albert Yasonovich Pliev, was a renowned defender for the "Spartak" (Ordzhonikidze) football club, now known as "Alania." Albert's mother, Rimma Arsenyevna Pliev, is a respected history professor at the North Ossetian State University.

Pliev graduated with honors from the law faculty of the North Ossetian State University. During his fifth year, he began working for the "Central" law firm, one of the largest in the republic.

Advocate in Notorious Cases

Prior to representing Nurpashi Kulaev in the Beslan school siege, Pliev had made a name for himself as a lawyer in high-profile criminal cases involving murder and rape.

Appointment to Defend Kulaev

After conversations with Mark Gagloyev, the president of the North Ossetian Bar Association, Pliev was appointed to defend Kulaev, the only surviving participant in the Beslan school siege. Pliev initially served as a duty lawyer and could not decline. No other lawyer in North Ossetia had voluntarily agreed to represent Kulaev.

Challenges in the Trial

During the trial, Pliev repeatedly emphasized that certain crimes attributed to Kulaev had not been proven by the prosecution. Notably, the prosecution had failed to establish that Kulaev, accused of murder (Part 2 of Article 105 of the Russian Criminal Code), had fired at hostages.

Controversy and Appeal

Despite Pliev's efforts, some victims of the terrorist attack expressed dissatisfaction with his representation, alleging that he played a merely nominal role as a court-appointed attorney. Pliev maintained that he generally supported the prosecution's version of events, while victims believed that federal forces' actions during the assault had led to numerous hostage deaths.

On May 29, 2005, the Supreme Court of North Ossetia sentenced Kulaev to life imprisonment in a maximum-security colony. Although the prosecution had sought the death penalty, the court considered Russia's moratorium on such measures.

Pliev appealed the verdict to the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on behalf of his client. As of mid-October 2006, no information about the Supreme Court's decision had been made public.