Islamist militants have claimed responsibility for the Moscow killing of Yury Budanov, a former colonel convicted of murdering a Chechen girl, the insurgency-affiliated Kavkaz Center web site said Saturday.
The web site cited sources in Chechnya as saying the Riyadus-Salikhiyn battalion carried out the June 10 attack.
Budanov was stripped of his rank as an army colonel and convicted in 2003 of strangling 18-year-old Elza Kungayeva during a tour of duty in Chechnya. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but won early release in 2009.
The Riyadus-Salikhiyn battalion has taken responsibility for the 2004 Beslan school massacre and a September market bombing in Vladikavkaz.
(Reuters)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.