Media: notorious killer associated with Russian Security Service arrived in Kyiv before assassination of journalist Babchenko
The killer known as Validol, who is associated the Russian special service (FSB), arrived in Kyiv before the murder of the Russian journalist, Arkady Babchenko, reports Kavkazcenter news outlet.
According to Kavkazcenter, the Chechen-born Walid Lurahmanov, who also goes by name Alexander Smirnov, arrived in Kyiv on May 3. According to the publication, he could have used a fake passport to get to the territory of Ukraine.
"It is not clear what the purpose of his visit was. It is possible that the FSB killer was targeting another victim at the request of Lubyanka (the headquarters of the FSB) and snuck into Ukraine to carry out a murder, "- publication writes.
The criminal was previously arrested in Turkey in 2016. There, he was accused of murdering deputy representative Vilayat Nohchicho Emirate Caucasus abroad Abdulvahid Jedilgeriev, as well as of planning other murders of prominent Chechens and spying in favor of Russia.
A year later, the Chechen killer and another person accused of espionage were extradited to Russia in exchange for the release of Crimean Tatar leaders Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chiygoz.
At the same time, the publication texty.org.ua reported that Validol looks very similar to the suspect in the murder of a Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko, whose image was published by the Ukrainian police.
The Russian opposition journalist Arkady Babchenko was killed on the evening of May 29 on the doorstep of his apartment in Kyiv. The killer shot him three times when Babchenko returned home from the store.