Chechen teenager accused of murder in Pugachov confesses, victims' advocate reports

A 16-year-old native of Chechnya, detained on suspicion of murdering Ruslan Marzhanov, a soldier in the city of Pugachov of the Saratov Region, has confessed. This was reported by the advocate, representing interests of the mother of the victim.

According to the report of advocate Oksana Mikhalkina, two brothers of the teenager were also arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder a law enforcer.

"There is information, in which investigators verify their involvement in the murder of Ruslan Marzhanov," the advocate said.

According to advocate Oksana Mikhalkina's story, on July 6, the detained teenager and his brothers came from the village of Rakhmanovka of the Pugachov District to the district centre "to have fun".

"It still remains a mystery what had happened between them in the cafe and what the motive had been. The investigators continue to find out the circumstances. However, it is noteworthy that the security guard of the cafe, who saw the conflict, did not push the guys from each other and failed to take any other action to end the incident. He just pushed them out to settle their conflict by themselves," the advocate has said.

She has added that a legal assessment will also be given to the actions of the security guard, who was the only witness to the conflict.

Oksana Mikhalkina believes that the situation in the city is under control; however, the tension still remains. "Fortunately, the police and local and federal officials managed to calm the most active protesters; however, city residents continue demanding to evict Chechen families," the "ITAR-TASS" quotes Oksana Mikhalkina as saying.