Russian commander's accused killer pleads not guilty
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 3 December 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russian commander's accused killer pleads not guilty, 3 December 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/50c2099423.html [accessed 21 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
December 03, 2012
By RFE/RL's Russian Service
Yusup Temirkhanov (left), who is accused of killing Colonel Yury Budanov, during a Moscow court appearance in August
A suspect in the high-profile murder of Russian Army Colonel Yury Budanov has pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial.
Yusup Temirkhanov, an ethnic Chechen, is charged with killing Budanov, who was convicted of murdering a young Chechen woman.
In 2003, Budanov was sentenced to 10 years for the abduction and killing of 18-year-old Elza Kungayeva during Russia's bloody war in Russia's Chechen Republic in the North Caucasus. His early release on parole in 2009 sparked outrage among rights activists.
In June 2011, Budanov was shot dead in Moscow.
Investigators say Temirkhanov killed Budanov to avenge the death of his father at the hands of Russian forces during the Chechen campaign.
Temirkhanov denies any involvement in the crime.
Two other defendants will be tried separately.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
