MOSCOW. July 12 (Interfax) - A source familiar with the investigation into the murder of former Colonel Yuri Budanov has told Interfax that the investigation is over.
"Yusup Temirkhanov has been charged with hatred-motivated murder. The investigation has been completed. Both sides will be able to study case materials shortly," the source said, adding that there is only one defendant in the case.
"Temirkhanov's father was killed and burnt by Russian soldiers. By killing Budanov, he avenged him," the source said.
Earlier, Magomed Suleymanov was a co-defendant, but he is no longer one following an identity check.
Budanov was shot dead near 38/16 Komsomolsky Avenue on June 10, 2011.
In July 2003, a court found Budanov guilty of kidnapping and killing a Chechen girl, Elza Kundayeva. Budanov was sentenced to 10 years in prison, stripped of his rank of Colonel and the Order of Courage, and barred from holding government posts for three years.
On December 24, 2008, a court in Dimitrovgrad granted Budanov early release. All of his four previous pleas had been rejected. The defense appealed but the appeal was turned down.
In the middle of January 2009, Budanov was released from penal colony No. 3 of Dimitrovgrad in the Ulyanovsk region.