17:13, 11 June 2014

Suspect of killing Russian diplomat in Abkhazia convicted in Georgia

Yusup Lakaev, a Russian citizen, a resident of Grozny, who was detained in the Georgian city of Batumi, was sentenced by the local court to 12 years in prison.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Yusup Lakaev, a native of Chechnya, who was detained on September 13 in Batumi after a fire fight with Georgian policemen, was suspected of the murder of Russian diplomat Dmitry Vishernev, committed in Sukhumi on September 9. His involvement in the murder of the diplomat Vishernyov was proved by means of the molecular genetic examination. The Russian General Prosecutor's Office had officially demanded from the Georgian party to extradite Lakaev. However, Georgia refused to do it.

In the course of the inquiry, held in Georgia, Lakaev was accused of illegal purchase, possession and bearing of firearms, as well as of an attempt to kill a policeman. The Batumi City Court sentenced Lakaev to 12 years in prison, the "Georgia-Online" reports.