Details on murder of Russian mayor in Azerbaijan's Gabala Radar made public - UPDATE

Investigation revealed that a group of officers working at Gabala Radar Station gathered in the house of Mayor Sergey Mikhaylovich Grachov in order to celebrate the New Year. After the banquet, there occurred scuffle between the guests and Grachov. The reasons of the scuffle are not yet. Consequently, officers killed Sergey Grachov, took money, jewels and left the site. Law-enforcement bodies received the information on the incident on January 2.

Moreover, it was revealed during investigations that some years ago Grachov got divorced, and has been living alone for more than a year.

The Military Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan Republic and Russian Defense Ministry have been immediately informed about the incident. Experts from Moscow have been invited to Azerbaijan for investigation of the murder. Group of Russian Military Prosecutor’s Office have already arrived in Gabala.

Investigative group consisting of officers of Azerbaijan’s Military Prosecutor’s Office has been created related to the incident. Together with Russian experts they examined the site and began interrogation process of Gabala Radar Stations’ personnel. Currently, Russian officers are giving testimony. No positive results have been received in connection with the detection of the murder so far.

Note that, Deputy Military Prosecutor Shefahet Imranov told APA that the investigation of the criminal case was conducted by Azerbaijani Military Prosecutor’s Office.

Imranov didn’t make any statement on details of the murder because of confidentiality of investigation. Currently, investigators of the Azerbaijani Military Prosecutor’s Office led by Imranov are in Gabala region.

The incident occured on January 2. Body of Russian Major Sergey Mikhaylovich Grachev, 47 was found in his house. According to original assumption, Grachov was killed by his fellow serviceman. According to some reports, the impulse of murder was a robbery.

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January 7
15:43

An investigation group of the Russian military prosecutor's office has arrived in Azerbaijan to investigate Russian officer's murder at the Gabala radar station in the country.

Russia leases Gabala radar station, and investigation on criminal case is being carried out by the prosecutor's office of the country, an informed source from the law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The source said that on the night between Jan.1 and Jan. 2, a colleague killed the Russian officer Sergei Mikhailovich Grachev at the Gabala radar station.

According to the information, the sleeping officer got a serious stab wound in the neck area, with the suspected killer also reported to be a Russian. Employees of the Azerbaijani military prosecutor's office also arrived at the scene.

Gabala radar station was built during Soviet times as one of the most important elements of Soviet Union's missile defense system. After Azerbaijan gained independence and moved the radar as its property, Russia continued to use the station, despite the radar being in Azerbaijan's jurisdiction.

A 10-year agreement on lease of the radar was signed in 2002. Question of the Gabala radar station has become the subject of internal debate, as well as in the Azerbaijani parliament. In early 2006, Azerbaijan raised the issue of doubling rent for the use of radar from $7 million to $14.4 million a year.

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12:25

A murder was committed in Gabala Radar Station in Azerbaijan, local police said. The incident took place on Jauary 2. Russian officer, Major Sergei Mikhailovich Grachev, 47 serving in Gabala Radar Station was killed by his fellow serviceman. The name of murderer has not been publicized.

The Military Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan has launched criminal case on the fact. The investigation is underway.


/APA, Trend/