A suspect with ties to one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top henchmen was charged Sunday in connection with the murder of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.
Zaur Dadayev, who served as a police officer in Chechnya, has admitted involvement in the killing, according to judge Natalia Mushnikova, who ordered him held in custody until at least April 28.
“I love the Prophet Muhammad,” Dadayev, a former deputy commander of the North battalion of Chechen interior ministry troops, told the court.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a top Putin ally, praised Dadayev as “a true patriot of Russia” who had received several medals for bravery.
“All who know Zaur confirm that he is a deep believer and also that he, like all Muslims, was shocked by the activities of Charlie [Hebdo] and by comments in support of printing the cartoons,” Kadyrov wrote on his Instagram account.
Nemtsov had defended the cartoons after Islamist gunmen in Paris killed 12 people at the office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January. Russian investigators said last week they were looking into the possibility that Islamist militants had killed the outspoken Nemtsov.
Nemtsov, 55, was shot in the back by a gunman within sight of the Kremlin while walking home on Feb. 27. His supporters believe the government may have been involved.
Dadayev was charged along with Anzor Gubashev, also of Chechnya, who pleaded not guilty. Three others, including a man named Tamerlan Eskerkhanov, were being held as suspects but have not been charged.
A sixth man thought to be involved in Nemtsov’s death blew himself up after being approached by police at his apartment on Saturday night, according to news reports. The 30-year-old allegedly threw a grenade at investigating officers in Grozny, Chechnya, before setting one off near himself.
With Post Wire Services