Jurors find Eldukaev not guilty of kidnapping Russo

According to the jury's verdict, Chechen native Tarkhan Eldukayev is not guilty of kidnapping singer Avraam Russo, but was found guilty of aiding in the attempted murder of businessmen Gurshumov.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, the case of Chechen native Tarkhan Eldukayev, accused of organizing murders ordered by the founder of the Cherkizovsky Market Telman Ismailov, was sent to the Izmailovsky District Court of Moscow in March for consideration, but was then transferred to a military court, since Eldukayev was a serviceman at the time the alleged crimes were committed. According to the defense, the investigation was conducted illegally, since the case materials do not contain an order from the leadership of the Investigative Committee of Russia to transfer it to an investigator from the Main Investigative Directorate. On May 21, the court selected a jury for the Eldukaev case. Avraam Russo, recognized as a victim, told the court about his kidnapping and attempted murder.

The jury found Tarkhan Eldukaev, former personal bodyguard of businessman Telman Ismailov, not guilty of attempting to kill singer Avraam Russo, RIA Novosti reported, citing one of the participants in the trial. "The jury found Eldukaev not guilty," the agency's source said.

Eldukaev was found guilty of aiding and abetting the attempted murder of businessmen Gurshumov, TASS reported, citing a law enforcement official.

"The jury found Eldukaev guilty under Part 5 of Article 33, Part 3 of Article 30, Part 2 of Article 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (aiding and abetting the attempted murder of two persons for hire, committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy) against the Gurshumovs," the agency's source said. He also pointed out that Eldukaev was found not guilty of the attempted murder of Avraam Russo.

Eldukaev's lawyer believes that his client has become a tool in attempts to demonize Ismailov. "The jury's decision is puzzling. The court did not establish any factual evidence of Eldukaev's involvement in these crimes. Eldukaev has become a tool in the ongoing attempts by some law enforcement agencies to demonize Ismailov. And all this illegal criminal prosecution of my client took place only because of his previous acquaintance and communication with Ismailov in the 90s," said lawyer Ruslan Zakalyuzhny, as quoted in the publication.

During the debate, the prosecutor urged the jury to find Eldukaev guilty on all counts. The defense objected and presented arguments about his non-involvement and complete innocence.

Vladimir Gusakov, Elyar Damirov and Zaur Mardanov were convicted for the kidnapping of Russo and sentenced to six, five and seven years in prison. Later, they were released from punishment due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. Two other defendants, Aleksey Tryasnikov and Vitaly Dzhura, were sentenced to 12 and nine years in a maximum security prison for the assassination attempt, during which Russo's car was shot at with a machine gun. The driver died, and the singer himself was wounded. The case of Mikhail Demkin, whom investigators believe to be their accomplice, was closed due to his death.

Baku native Telman Ismailov was declared bankrupt in December 2015 and was banned from leaving the country for three years. In October 2018, Ismailov, who was wanted internationally, was charged in absentia with organizing the kidnapping of Avraam Russo.

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