Dubai: An Iranian and a Tajik accused of aiding men who killed Chechen leader Sulim Yamadayev in Dubai have been sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by deportation, Gulf News newspaper said on Monday.
The Iranian, a clerk identified by the initials MT, and the Tajik, a businessman whose initials are MK, were given the sentence by Dubai Court of First Instance judge Abdul Latif Abdul Jawad on Monday, the online edition of the newspaper reported.
The two men pleaded not guilty, and their lawyers described the charges against them as "groundless and uncorroborated”, Gulf News said.
Yamadayev, a bitter foe of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, was shot dead on March 28, 2009 in a parking lot outside his apartment at Dubai`s Jumeirah Beach Residence complex.
A former Chechen separatist, Yamadayev, switched sides in the late 1990s and became the commander of Vostok, an elite battalion which fought the rebels. He was honoured with Russia`s top decoration, the Hero of Russia award.
He was dismissed from the military in late 2008 amid bitter rivalry with Kadyrov.
Yamadayev left Russia and moved to Dubai in 2009, fearing for his life after a brother was assassinated in September 2008, according to the Russian media.
In April 2009, Dubai police chief Dahi Khalfan accused Chechen Vice Prime Minister Adam Delimkhanov of ordering Yamadayev`s assassination.
PTI
