Umar Israilov's murder case tried in Vienna

Today, Vienna saw the first court session considering the murder case of Umar Israilov, a native of Chechnya and ex-security guard of Ramzan Kadyrov. Enhanced security measures have been introduced by the police in the district where the litigation takes place.

Umar Israilov, 27, was shot dead in Vienna on January 13, 2009, when he went out of a store. As follows from the indictment, the defendants intended to capture Israilov and "hand him over to the Chechen authorities."

The defendants, who are currently kept in the pre-trial prison, are accused under the articles assuming liability, in particular, for complicity to murder. They may face sentences of up to life imprisonment, according to the "France Press" Agency. The defendants' names are not disclosed. The verdict on the case is expected in two weeks.

The Austrian media have already named the trial "a play without main actors", since the prisoners' dock contains neither the gunman, who managed to escape nor the customer of the crime, the Radio Liberty reports.

Meanwhile, Peter Pilz, an Austrian MP from the Green Party, demanded to deport from the country about 30 Chechens who, according to his version, make a "terrorist grouping", which obeys orders of Chechen leadership. He also demanded that "the General Prosecutor's Office give the green light" to preparation of charges against President of Chechnya, in order to get an international arrest warrant on him in the future.

On November 15, the Human Rights Watch made a statement that Russian authorities should carefully check the information collected by the Austrian police in the course of investigation, which indicate to possible involvement of Ramzan Kadyrov in this case.

The Austrian Prosecutor's Office asserts in its indictment that the customer of the kidnapping was Shaa Turlaev - a man from the closest retinue of Ramzan Kadyrov; Turlaev's whereabouts are unknown, which leaves the question of whether he acted on his own initiative or "merely acted as Kadyrov's emissary by transferring orders" open. The whereabouts of the gunman, who directly shot Israilov dead, are also unknown.