Chechens suspected of attempting Kadyrov's life accused of forging their diplomas

The only charge count recognized by Ruslan Musaev, a suspect on the case of preparing an attempt to murder Ramzan Kadyrov, president of Chechnya, is forgery of a university diploma. This has been reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Shamil Arifulov,  Musaev's lawyer.

For reference, Umar Batukaev, Ruslan Musaev and Lors Lhamiev of Chechen origin, who initially were charged with preparing a terrorist act near "Profsoyuznaya" metro station, in the course of the investigation became suspects of preparing an attempt on the life of  Ramzan Kadyrov.

As regards Musaev, he was charged under article 205-1 CC ("financing of terrorist activity"). However, later this charge was dropped. Now, Musaev who is held at the pre-trial prison is charged under four articles: "preparation of a group of persons for actions hampering work of a civil functionary", "storage of armaments and explosives", "covering crimes" and "forgery of documents". According to lawyer Arifulov, Musaev recognizes that he forged his university diploma in order to spend fewer years for getting a second higher education at Moscow Banking Institute.

Arifulov reports that the investigation agency has "started to work on" Ruslan Musaev and Umar Barukaev, residents of Moscow, because they were acquainted with Lors Khaniev who had been detained earlier in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. The latter was charged with membership in illegal armed units and an attack of militants on Nazran in 2004. In the course of the investigation, Khaniev confessed that the militants had a car in Moscow stuffed with armaments and explosives.

They started shadowing Batukaev and Musaev, whose wife's cousin was married to Lors Khamiev, and bugged their telephones.

Musaev was arrested on May 8, 2007 after a telephone call from his mother from Chechnya advising him to get rid of "everything that may compromising from his house". This was a signal for the detectives who were concerned that Musaev might start destroying evidence. However, according to Arifulov, nothing illegal was found in Musaev's flat during the search.

Umar Batukaev, fifth-year student of the law faculty at the Moscow Academy of Economy and Law, was detained by the FSS on the same day when he was driving his own car to meet this friends.

Simultaneously, officers of the unit for fighting organized crime discovered a "VAZ-2107" filled with armaments and ammunition in the yard of house No 26/44 in Profsoyuznaya Street. The car owned by Umar Batukaev by a proxy, was parked at a place allocated to the Khamiev's family. Additionally, Lors Khamiev was registered in the car insurance certificate as a person entitled to drive the car.

For reference, on December 24, preliminary hearing of the case of preparing an attempt on Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov took place in the Moscow city court. The court granted the application of defendants Ruslan Musaev, Umar Batukaev and Lors Khamiev to be tried by a jury court. The jury selection is appointed on January 23, 2009. The court hearings will be held in camera since the case file contains documents which constitute a state secret.