Nazbi Ajiyev, an ex-imam of Kislovodsk, suspected of the murder of Ismail Bostanov (deputy head of the Muslim Administration of Karachay-Cherkessia and Stavropol Territory), is innocent, according to Salavat Gandayev, the actual murderer, said court spokesperson Janna Lafisheva, TASS reports.
Six more witnesses will be questioned about the murder. 24 people are involved in the case. The next court session will start on January 19.
According to investigators, Ajiyev, motivated by vengeance and striving for promotion, encouraged Gandayev to kill Bostanov. Gandayev shot Bostanov dead on September 20, 2009, wounding his 16-year-old son. He was sentenced to 19 years in jail in August 2012.
Other people involved in the case got 5-8 years imprisonment, one was fined. The case against Ajiyev was frozen in 2011 due to his illness.
Investigations resumed in 2014. Ajiyev was taken into custody.
