14 March 2007, 22:36
Trial on Khlebnikov's case suspended for defendant's disappearance
The Moscow City Court has suspended the trial on the murder case of Paul Khlebnikov, editor-in-chief of the Russian version of the Forbes magazine because of disappearance of defendant Kazbek Dukuzov. The judge has announced a search of Dukuzov and appointed in absentia to arrest him as a freedom restriction measure, the RIA "Novosti" reports.
The case is reconsidered by the court. Apart from Dukuzov, Musa Vakhaev and Fail Sadretdinov are accused of murdering Khlebnikov.
The "Caucasian Knot" has already reported that Paul Khlebnikov was killed in Moscow on July 9, 2004. According to the version of the investigation, the journalist was assassinated by the members of an organized criminal group comprised of citizens of Chechnya. The inquiry also stated that they had established the customer of the murder - Khozh-Ahmed Nukhaev, resident of the Chechen Republic.