The person accused of murdering Khlebnikov attempts suicide

Moscow notary Fail Sadretdinov, defendant in the case of murder of Paul Khlebnikov, chief editor of the Forbes magazine Russian version, has attempted suicide, reports the RIA "Novosti." The information comes from a source in the capital's law enforcement agencies. "Sadretdinov has made an attempt of suicide. He tried to cut his veins," said the agency interlocutor.

For reference, Sadretdinov's lawyers previously submitted a complaint to the Russian Federal Service for Enforcement of Punishments (FSIN) and special rapporteur on human rights under the UN Committee on Combating Torture and other Inhuman Treatment in connection with the pressure exerted on their defendant, reports RIA "Novosti." "I have learnt from him (i.e., from Sadretdinov - CK) that he was subjected to torture. He was transferred to another cell where the air temperature is never beyond 5 degrees," stated on Tuesday lawyer Ruslan Koblev who represents the interests of the Moscow notary Fail Sadretdinov.

"The total area in the cell is eight square meters, for five people. There are only four beds, the inmates sleep in turn, Sadretdinov is an invalid of the second category," highlights Koblev. They also take turns to wear warm clothes. According to the defendant' statement passed by the lawyer, the cell is virtually not heated, while the heating battery and the common toilet facility leak, causing almost one hundred percent humidity. "From the moment of transfer, Fail's fits almost never stop and we are seriously concerned about his life," says Koblev.

As it became known, Sadretdinov was transferred to another cell last Tuesday. On February 6, Ruslan Koblev, his lawyer, made known the statement of his client: "It is a punishment for my principal stand in court. My lawyers and I managed to replace the biased judge and they immediately punished me."

Last week the hearings on the "Khlebnikov's case" which barely started were suspended due to replacement of the judge. Officially it was explained that the initial judge fell seriously ill and needed hospital treatment.

The "Vremia Novostei" (Time for News) newspaper writes that as early as last autumn Sadretdinov's defence lawyers requested hospital treatment for him. Instead, the notary was transferred without any reason to a cell where the temperature is close to zero.

The document prepared by the lawyers to be sent to the above instances, apart from the conditions in which Sadretdinov is being held which the defence considers as torture and an attempt to exert pressure, will include other facts of cruel treatment of witnesses on the "Khlebnikov's case."

At present, the suspect is being held in Moscow detention facility number five. Paul Khlebnikov was murdered in Moscow on July 9, 2004. Among the accused are three persons: Moscow notary Fail Sadretdinov and two Chechens - Musa Vakhaev and Kazbek Dukuzov. The investigation established that the murder had been committed by members of an organized criminal group which included Chechen residents Kazbek Dukuzov, his brother Magomed Dukuzov, Musa Vakhaev, Magomed Edilsultanov and others.

The investigation also established the customer of Khlebnikov's murder - it was Khozh-Ahmed Nukhaev, Chechen resident, who suggested that the participants of the criminal group murder Khlebnikov for money. At present, Nukhaev, Edilsultanov and Magomed Dukuzov are announced wanted. The hearings on the case of Khlebnikov's murder are appointed in Moscow city court on February 15.