The mayor of Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, has been detained for two months on suspicion of organizing the murder of an investigator, the Investigative Committee said Saturday.
The corresponding court ruling for Said Amirov's detention was issued on Sunday by Moscow's Basmanny District Court, a day after Amirov himself was taken into custody and transported to Moscow, Interfax reported.
Vladimir Markin, the official spokesman for the Investigative Committee, said investigators would have the charges finalized within 10 days.
Investigators say Amirov organized the killing of an investigator in December 2011; 10 others suspected of involvement have also been detained.
According to Lenta.ru, Amirov's detention was prompted by the testimony of a militant from a guerrilla terrorist group who was arrested during a special operation on May 31.
The Investigative Committee's statement also said all those detained were being questioned in connection with "a variety of other serious and heinous crimes committed on the territory of the republic of Dagestan."
If charged with organizing an attempt on the life of a person conducting legal proceedings or a preliminary investigation, Amirov faces up to life in prison.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
