This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/russia/450138-russia-senator-arrested-murder/

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Unprecedented arrest in Russian parliament, senator detained on murder charges Unprecedented arrest in Russian parliament as senator detained on murder charges
(about 5 hours later)
Two of the country’s top law enforcers, the prosecutor general and the head of the Sledcom, the agency that investigates high profile crimes, entered the hall and addressed the session naming charges to senator Rauf Arashukov. Russia’s top law enforcers, the prosecutor general and the head of the Investigative Committee, entered the Russian parliament on Wednesday and addressed the session to announce charges against the youngest senator Rauf Arashukov.
The embattled senator tried to escape by running upstairs, but chairwoman Valentina Matveenko ordered him in an “icy voice” to return to his seat, the witnesses said. Arashukov, who represents the North Caucasus republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, was eventually detained by secret service officers. The 32-year-old politician tried to escape by running upstairs, but was ordered by the chairwoman to return to his seat in an “icy voice,” according to witnesses. He complied with the order and declined an opportunity to address the house. It remains unclear why he didn’t avail of his legal right to defend himself.
The arrest took place after the Upper House ruled to strip Rauf Arashukov of his parliamentary immunity. Now the senator faces several charges including murder, corruption, and racketeering. Later, during the interrogation, Arashukov made surprising claims that he doesn’t speak Russian well enough and demanded an interpreter.
According to the Investigative committee, Arashukov has been charged with the murder of Circassian activist Aslan Zhukov, who was shot dead in March 2010 in the regional capital of Cherkessk, as well as the May 2010 murder of politician Fral Shebzukhov. There were dramatic scenes as four officers, representing the Investigative Committee and even the security service, FSB, came into the assembly hall and approached the embattled senator.
The senator became a suspect as the person who ordered the killing after one of the hitmen who carried out the crime turned himself in, in August last year, RBC news website reported. The suspected hitmen confessed they were paid 1 million roubles ($15,000) for Zhukov’s murder and 500,000 ($7,500) to “intimidate and beat up” Shebzukhov. Other  Upper House members, who had just ruled in favor of stripping him of parliamentary immunity, watched as Arashukov, a tall, strongly-built young man, stood obediently, without lifting a finger. Then the officers surrounded him and walked him away.
The investigators have also recovered a fake travel pass, saying that Arashukov planned to leave for the UAE, where he had obtained a permanent residence. According to the Russian media, UAE authorities were investigating Arashukov for document forgery. Video, released by investigators, showed him arriving to the Investigative Committee building, already handcuffed. The senator, who represents one of the republics of North Caucasus, faces several criminal charges including murder, corruption, and racketeering.
Rauf Arashukov, a son of a prominent businessman in the gas sector, was nominated by the local legislature in 2016 and sent to the Upper House to become the youngest representative at the age of 30. The dramatic arrest kick-started a large-scale police operation involving searches in several Russian cities on Wednesday. The politician’s father, gas mogul Raul Arashukov, was arrested at his office in St. Petersburg in relation to the alleged embezzlement of $450 million.
Investigators allege that Arashukov Jr was involved in the contract killing of a political activist and local politician in his native Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia in May 2010. The senator became a suspect in the case as the person who allegedly ordered the murder after one of the hitmen who carried out the killing turned himself in last August, RBC news website reported.
Meanwhile, UAE authorities have also launched an investigation into Arashukov in connection with alleged document forgery.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!Like this story? Share it with a friend!