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Uzbek who threatened to kill Obama charged with terrorist aid

The U.S. authorities brought new charges against a citizen of Uzbekistan who threatened to kill US President Barack Obama

NEW YORK, February 10 (Itar-Tass) — The U.S. authorities brought new charges against a citizen of Uzbekistan who threatened to kill US President Barack Obama. On Thursday, the federal attorney’s office submitted new documents on the case to the District Court in Birmingham (Alabama). The 21-year-old Ulugbek Kodirov is charged with aiding and abetting terrorists.

As stated in the lawsuit, Kodirov, who was illegally staying in the U.S., acquired firearms and explosives, which he intended to use in an attempt to kill the U.S. president.

Kodirov was arrested in a Birmingham hotel on July 13 after he bought the M-16 automatic rifle from the U.S. intelligence agent who worked undercover. According to Joyce White Vance, the Attorney of the Northern District of Alabama, the defendant has repeatedly stated that he was going to kill the President of the United States.

According to the authorities, the citizen of Uzbekistan entered the United States in 2009 on a student visa that was annulled a year later because he failed to get admitted to a university.

After hisarrest, Kodirov was charged with four counts: issuing threats to the U.S. president, illegal possession of automatic weapons, possession of a grenade, illegal possession of weapons as well as being an illegal immigrant. During the first appearance in court on August 11 Kodirov pleaded not guilty.

The new documents on the case indicate that now the illegal Uzbek intends to withdraw his original objections to the brought charges. He is expected to admit his guilt at a court meeting scheduled for Friday. According to the observers, this is part of a deal with the American justice: Kodirov pleads guilty on all four counts, and the prosecutors will drop charges of terrorism against him.

As a result, Kodirov will get a shorter prison term, or even will be deported - in that case his fate will be decided by the Uzbek authorities.

The Uzbekistani citizen’s lawyer declined to comment on this information.

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