Seven suspects in Tatarstan cleric's murder released, one remains in custody - Investigative Committee
MOSCOW. Aug 16 (Interfax) - Seven persons detained over their suspected involvement in the murder and attempted murder of two prominent Muslim clerics in Tatarstan have been released from custody, the Russian Investigative Committee reports.
Earlier, the wife of one of the suspects said that six detainees had been released.
"The Investigative Committee for Tatarstan has canceled the measure of restraint for seven persons on their suspected involvement in the murder of deputy mufti of the Spiritual Department of the Muslims of Tatarstan Valiulla Yakupov and the attempted assassination of the republic's mufti Ildus Faizov," the committee said on its website on Thursday.
"The arrest as a previously chosen measure of restraint has been replaced by a procedural measure - a written obligation to appear for testimony," the statement says.
One suspect remains in custody on similar charges and three others - Rais Mingaleyev, Robert Valeyev and Albert Ismagilov - are being searched for.
The investigation continues.
On July 19, on the eve of the sacred Muslim month of Ramadan, Ildus Faizov, 49, was injured in a car bomb explosion. An hour later, his deputy Valiulla Yakupov, 48, was shot dead on the doorstep of his home.
A criminal case was opened on charges of terrorism, murder and attempted murder.
The professional activity of the two clerics and their ideological differences with opponents are presumed to be the key motives behind the attacks.
Faizov and Yakupov were known for their irreconcilable stance toward radical branches of Islam.
A group calling itself the Mujahideen of Tatarstan claimed responsibility for the attacks in a video message posted on the Internet.
