Convicted murderer of Col. Budanov hospitalized after refusing food - source
OMSK. Jan 30 (Interfax) - Yusup Temerkhanov, who was sentenced to 15 years in a high-security prison for the murder of Colonel Yury Budanov, is, contrary to his lawyers' claims, in good health and his life is not at risk, a source in law enforcement agencies told Interfax.
"The information set out by lawyer Murad Musayev about Temerkhanov's ostensibly difficult condition is untrue. Temerkhanov is well, and his life is not at risk. The facts set out by him were promptly checked by prosecutors and prison officials today, and could not be confirmed," the source said.
The convict is currently in hospital, he said.
"He is not taking any food, but nor has he announced any hunger strike. By law, a convict who refuses food must be hospitalized to have his condition monitored. He smokes cigarettes," the source added.
No official confirmation of this information has been made available to Interfax.
My client is unwell, Musayev said earlier on Thursday.
Budanov was shot dead not far from a notary's office in Komsomolsky Prospekt in Moscow on June 10, 2011.
On August 26, 2011, the Presnensky Court in Moscow arrested Chechen native Magomed Suleimanov on suspicion of Budanov's murder. Subsequently, after an identity parade, the suspect was referred to as Temerkhanov throughout the dossier. He was charged with murder and illegal possession of firearms.
Temerkhanov was following Budanov and then killed him with several shots, according to the case files. After that Temerkhanov fled the scene and burned his getaway car.
Temerkhanov decided to take revenge against Budanov, believing the colonel to have been involved in the killing of his father in Chechnya during a counterterrorist operation in 2000, investigators said.
On May 7, 2013 Moscow City Court, based on the jury's guilty verdict, sentenced Temerkhanov to 15 years in a high-security prison. The verdict was later upheld by the Russian Supreme Court.