MIA rejects version about preparation of Russian pop singer's murder by native of Dagestan

Khidirnabi Kazuev, a native of Dagestan, said that he was plotting not a terror act, but a murder of pop singer Philipp Kirkorov by order of showman Maxim Galkin. Investigators should verify the Khidirnabi Kazuev's testimony, the defence insists.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 12, the defence announced the completion of the investigation into the case against four people from Dagestan accused of involvement in a banned terrorist organization. According to the investigators, three of the defendants, including Khidirnabi Kazuev, Samir Ibragimov, and Gabibula Khalduzov, were plotting explosions at the concert of Philipp Kirkorov in Makhachkala on July 6, 2017.

During the interrogation held on March 4, Khidirnabi Kazuev stated that he was plotting not a terror attack, but a murder of Philipp Kirkorov by order of Maxim Galkin, reported Israfil Gadadov, an advocate of Khidirnabi Kazuev. The defendant claims that the proposal to kill the singer was made in Moscow in early 2017, and Khidirnabi Kazuev was offered two million roubles for the murder.

Khidirnabi Kazuev asked the investigators to interrogate Philipp Kirkorov, Maxim Galkin and his wife Alla Pugacheva and also to arrange face-to-face confrontations with them. An investigator of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) regarded the motion and the testimony itself as an attempt to delay the investigation, and the Khidirnabi Kazuev's request was rejected. Nevertheless, advocate Israfil Gadadov intends to seek verification of the version set forth by his client.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 13, 2019 at 05:21 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.