MOSCOW, October 28 (RIA Novosti/RAPSI) – The lawyer of a long-serving Russian mayor detained earlier this year on suspicion of murder said Monday that reported terrorism charges against his client were a “fantasy."
Last month investigators opened a criminal case into Said Amirov, who they suspect obtained surface-to-air missiles in order to shoot down a plane carrying a local official.
Amirov’s lawyer, Mark Kruter, denied there was any truth to the accusation.
“It is the fantasy of investigative bodies – and let them fantasize. All the accusations are on the level of Jules Verne,” Kruter said.
Russian newspaper Kommersant reported earlier Monday that investigators have formally charged Said Amirov with terrorism and arms trading offenses.
The Investigative Committee did not comment on the reported charges Monday.
Amirov, formerly the mayor of Makhachkala, the capital of the restive North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan, was arrested in June on suspicion of ordering the murder of an investigator in a dramatic police blitz.
Amirov had served as mayor from 1998 until his arrest.
