WASHINGTON, November 5 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian citizen Irek Ilgiz Hamidullin faces 12 terrorism-related charges in the United States that carry penalty of life imprisonment, according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
"Hamidullin was indicted by a [US] federal grand jury on twelve counts… The charges carry a potential maximum penalty of life imprisonment," a press release issued by the US Department of Justice on Tuesday night reads.
Hamidullin allegedly participated in an attack on the US troops and Afghan Border Police in Afghanistan in November 2009. His charges include provision of material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to murder a US citizen, attempting to destroy an aircraft of the US armed forces and others.
On Monday, Hamidullin's case was turned over for investigation to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is being prosecuted by the Counterterrorism Section of the DOJ's National Security Division.
Former officer and tank commander of the Soviet army, Hamidullin joined the Taliban in 2001 and by 2009 commanded a group of insurgent operating in Afghanistan, according to the DOJ.
