Trial begins for only surviving Beslan hostage-taker News
Trial begins for only surviving Beslan hostage-taker

[JURIST] The trial of Nur-Pashi Kulayev, the sole surviving member of the militant group responsible for Beslan School Crisis [Wikipedia entry; BBC backgrounder] in September 2004, began Tuesday under tight security in Vladikavkaz, the capital of Russia's North Ossetian region. Kulayev has been charged with terrorism, banditry and murder, among other things. While he admits playing a role in the seizure, Kalayev insists he killed no one. The maximum sentence Kalayev could receive is life in prison, as Russia imposed a moratorium on the death penalty in 1996 to join the Council of Europe [official website]. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.