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Former Serviceman Admits Killing Dagestan's Police Chief

Prosecutors asked the court to sentence former serviceman Andrei Rezanov to 22 years in prison after he admitted to killing the head of Dagestan's police force, Adilgerei Magomedtagirov, a news report said Tuesday.

At a special court session, the state's attorney said the defendant had actively cooperated in the investigation. He said Rezanov did not know who the victim was and agreed to kill him just for the money, RIA Novosti said.

According to the Investigative Committee, Rezanov was paid 1.5 million rubles ($45,600) for the killing.

Prosecutors asked the court to sentence Rezanov to 22 years in a maximum security penal colony.

"I think it is an appropriate punishment for the crimes committed," the prosecutor said.

The North Caucasus District Military Court is expected to announce a sentence at 5 p.m., the report said.

Magomedtagirov was killed by a sniper shot on June 5, 2009 when he came out of a banquet hall, where his subordinate had been celebrating his daughter's wedding.

Seven other police officers were wounded in the attack, and one later died of his injuries.

Investigators believe that the minister's assassination was ordered by a criminal group headed by Ibragim Gadzhidadayev, who was recently killed by law enforcement.

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