In a grave setback for relatives of slain Ingush oppositionist Magomed Yevloyev, the Ingush High Court decided on Tuesday to significantly lighten the sentence of the oppositionist’s killer.
Ibragim Yevloyev, of no relation to his victim, was the former police officer sentenced late last year to two years in a penal colony for what was ruled to be the "accidental” killing of Magomed Yevloyev.
Relatives of the slain opposition leader had filed a complaint on December 11, 2009, demanding that the court give Yevloyev a harsher sentence. They maintain that Yevloyev was murdered intentionally, and his father, Yakhya Yevloyev, has been particularly outspoken. In a December interview with Gazeta.ru, Yakhya asserted that the light sentence had been a result of pressure on the judge from former Internal Minister Musa Medov, an uncle of the accused officer.
"Judge Tumgoyev admitted to me that Medov called and ...