Yesterday the Supreme Court of Mariy El started hearing the criminal case against police major Mikhailov accused of killing his colleague, officer Lebedev, at a traffic police station in Volzhsk.

Right now the public investigation case under the application of senior lieutenant Lebedev’s mother is in procedure of INGO “Committee against Torture” in Mariy El working in cooperation with regional NGO “Man and Law”.  The representation staff, Dmitry Yegoshin and Dmitry Yalikov, having conducted a public investigation, determined violation of art.2 of the European Convention on Human Rights – “right to life”. Lawyer Valentin Yeruslanov represents the interests of the late officer’s mother in court.  

During the hearing the accused did not plead guilty of killing officer Lebedev, he only partially admitted his guilt in respect of abuse of office.

Mr. Lebedev was killed almost a year ago. At night on 5 July 2008, local traffic police officer, major Mikhailov, all of a sudden started firing at his mate and shot him. There was also another victim, officer Artem Turanov from the Volzhsk Department of the Interior, who was conducting a check at the police station. Fortunately, he was only wounded.

After that the major tried to commit suicide, but he failed. The criminal case was started the following day. Mikhailov was charged under three criminal code articles – murder, attempted murder and abuse of office.