Inspector bans marriage of figurants in Markelov's murder case

The inspector who deals with the criminal case about the murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalists Anastasia Baburova said that he would not allow marriage of Nikita Tikhonov and Evgenia Khasis before the materials of the case went to the court.

According to Alexei Baranovskiy, coordinator of the Centre "Russian Verdict", inspector Igor Krasnov issued an official paper stating that he would not allow their marriage before the materials arrived to the court.

Mr Baranovskiy added that the defendants had already got acquainted with two thirds of the materials of the criminal case, and, by his estimates, the transfers of the case to the court may be expected in late October-early November, the "Interfax" reports.

In August, the custody of Tikhonov and Khasis was extended till November 3.

Mikhail Markelov, brother of the killed lawyer and an ex-deputy of the State Duma, has already studied the materials of the criminal case as a victim. According to his story, because of a non-disclosure subscription he cannot discuss the details, but he is convinced of the absolute guilt of the defendants. "The absolute proof of their guilt by the materials of investigation causes no doubts in me," Mr Markelov has noted. "Irrespective of how the trial goes, I'll demand life imprisonment for Tikhonov and maximal term for Khasis."

In Markelov's opinion, Evgenia Khasis was the "ideological inspirer" of the attempt, while Nikita Tikhonov, who had got under her "influence and charm", was just a gunman, the "Kommersant" writes. Ms Khasis herself categorically rejects her guilt; and her defenders state that they saw no proofs of their client's guilt in the materials of the case.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the final version of the case lifted the charges of Baburova's murder accomplice from Khasis; now she is accused only of taking part in Markelov's murder. Tikhonov is directly accused of assassinating the lawyer and the journalist.

The investigation believes that Khasis and Tikhonov killed lawyer Stanislav Markelov in revenge for his presenting the interests of anti-fascists and victims of nationalists at trials.