losion had led to the deaths of Kazbek Taysumov, Zulpat Eskirkhanova, and Ayshat Eskirkhanova. Mr D. had sustained serious bodily injuries while Ms and Mr Yu. had received minor injuries. The explosion had also caused the partial destruction of the first applicant's house.
B. Investigation into the attack
1. Information submitted by the applicants
19. After the killing of their relatives the applicants repeatedly complained both in person and in writing to prosecutor's offices at different levels. They were supported in their efforts by the SRJI. In their letters to the authorities the applicants referred to the facts of their relatives' deaths and asked for assistance and details of an investigation. These enquiries mostly remained unanswered, or only met with formal responses to the effect that the applicants' requests were being forwarded to various prosecutor's offices.
20. At some point the first applicant was informed that he had been granted victim status in case No. 56136.
21. On 16 December 2002 the first applicant requested the prosecutor's office of the Chechen Republic and the military prosecutor of military unit No. 20102 ("the unit prosecutor's office") to inform him of developments in the case.
22. On 15 January 2003 the prosecutor's office of the Chechen Republic forwarded the first applicant's request to the unit prosecutor's office "for inclusion in the file of criminal case No. 34/33/0621-02 instituted under Article 109 § 2 of the Russian Criminal Code".
23. On 22 January 2003 the first applicant asked the district prosecutor's office about the results of the investigation.
24. By letter of 13 March 2003 the prosecutor's office of the Chechen Republic forwarded the first applicant's query, described as "erroneously transmitted to them", to the unit prosecutor's office. The letter also stated that criminal case No. 34/33/0621-02 received by the prosecutor's office of the Chechen Republic on 9 December 2002 had been returned to the unit prosecutor's office for "an additional investigation" on 11 December 2002.
25. On 25 March 2003 the Chief Military Prosecutor's Office forwarded the first applicant's letter concerning the death of his family and destruction of his property to the South Federal Circuit Department of the Prosecutor General's Office.
26. On 31 March 2003 the unit prosecutor's office notified the first applicant that on 8 September 2002 the district prosecutor's office had initiated criminal proceedings in connection with the deaths of his family members on 7 September 2002. They further noted that on 14 February 2003 the case file had been received by the unit prosecutor's office and given the number 34/33/0621-02, and that currently various investigative measures were being taken in order to establish who was responsible.
27. On 4 April 2003 the first applicant requested an update on progress in the investigation from the unit prosecutor's office. He also requested to be granted victim status, stating that since the date on which the criminal proceedings had been brought he had received no news regarding the course of the investigation.
28. By letter of 6 May 2003 the unit prosecutor's office informed the first applicant that on 8 September 2002 the district prosecutor's office had instituted criminal proceedings under Article 105 § 2 of the Russian Criminal Code (aggravated murder) in connection with "a series of explosions" in Chechen-Aul on 7 September 2002, and that on 28 September 2002 the case file had been transferred to the unit prosecutor's office and given the number 34/33/0621-02 D. The reason for the transfer was the assumption that "the series of explosions" had been caused by the shelling of the village
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