The man suspected in plotting an assassination attempt on President Vladimir Putin has been extradited to Russia from Ukraine, but has now withdrawn his confession.

file photoKazakh national Ilya Pyanzin said he was only a witness of the assassination plot, and the deceased Ruslan Madayev was making all the preparations, Kommersant reported.

Change of tune

The suspect was extradited from Ukraine to Russia on Saturday. He was taken to Moscow on a regular scheduled flight accompanied by Russian penitentiary services employees.

During questioning on Monday, Pyanzin told the investigators about the alleged terrorist group's preparations in Odessa. However, he said he was an involuntary accomplice in the criminal activity organised by his friend and flatmate, Chechnya native Ruslan Madayev.

Pyanzin, who pleaded not guilty on all charges, made a good impression on his lawyer, appointed by the state.

"Intelligent, educated, polite, well-spoken," lawyer Vladimir Markov told Kommersant. "In any case, having met him in different circumstances, one would never think that this man stands accused of grave crimes."

Pyanzin's wife, however, said she would hire a different lawyer to represent her husband in court.

Pyanzin asked to meet a Kazakh Embassy councillor, but the meeting did not take place as the Kazakh Embassy was not officially informed about the extradition.

Assassination plot

In February, Russian and Ukrainian special services announced the capture of wanted criminals in Odessa. Grozny native Adam Osmayev was wanted by Russian law enforcement since 2008 on a number of terrorism charges. It became known from the testimony of those detained that they were preparing an assassination attempt on then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin with explosives, and it was to take place right after the March presidential elections.

He named Chechen warlord Doku Umarov as the organizer. He later said he made the confessions in order to serve his prison time in Ukraine and not be extradited to Russia.

Kiev had earlier approved Russian extradition demand for Osmayev, the main suspect in assassination plot. His lawyers tried to appeal the decision in court, but Odessa regional court confirmed the extradition. The defence appealed the decision, but the appeal court denied it.

The decision was appealed in the European Court of Human rights on Aug. 22, but Russian prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Pyanzin and Osmayev in absentia. They are charged with participating in an armed gang and an attempt on the life of a state official, as well as the illegal making, storing and carrying of weapons. They could face up to 20 years in prison.

Keywords: Russia, Government, Politics - Russia, Assassinations - Russian News - Russia - Johnson's Russia List

The man suspected in plotting an assassination attempt on President Vladimir Putin has been extradited to Russia from Ukraine, but has now withdrawn his confession.

file photoKazakh national Ilya Pyanzin said he was only a witness of the assassination plot, and the deceased Ruslan Madayev was making all the preparations, Kommersant reported.

Change of tune

The suspect was extradited from Ukraine to Russia on Saturday. He was taken to Moscow on a regular scheduled flight accompanied by Russian penitentiary services employees.

During questioning on Monday, Pyanzin told the investigators about the alleged terrorist group's preparations in Odessa. However, he said he was an involuntary accomplice in the criminal activity organised by his friend and flatmate, Chechnya native Ruslan Madayev.

Pyanzin, who pleaded not guilty on all charges, made a good impression on his lawyer, appointed by the state.

"Intelligent, educated, polite, well-spoken," lawyer Vladimir Markov told Kommersant. "In any case, having met him in different circumstances, one would never think that this man stands accused of grave crimes."

Pyanzin's wife, however, said she would hire a different lawyer to represent her husband in court.

Pyanzin asked to meet a Kazakh Embassy councillor, but the meeting did not take place as the Kazakh Embassy was not officially informed about the extradition.

Assassination plot

In February, Russian and Ukrainian special services announced the capture of wanted criminals in Odessa. Grozny native Adam Osmayev was wanted by Russian law enforcement since 2008 on a number of terrorism charges. It became known from the testimony of those detained that they were preparing an assassination attempt on then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin with explosives, and it was to take place right after the March presidential elections.

He named Chechen warlord Doku Umarov as the organizer. He later said he made the confessions in order to serve his prison time in Ukraine and not be extradited to Russia.

Kiev had earlier approved Russian extradition demand for Osmayev, the main suspect in assassination plot. His lawyers tried to appeal the decision in court, but Odessa regional court confirmed the extradition. The defence appealed the decision, but the appeal court denied it.

The decision was appealed in the European Court of Human rights on Aug. 22, but Russian prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Pyanzin and Osmayev in absentia. They are charged with participating in an armed gang and an attempt on the life of a state official, as well as the illegal making, storing and carrying of weapons. They could face up to 20 years in prison.