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Mirzaev released from custody

Zamoskvoretskiy Moscow court released Rasul Mirzaev from custody, the athlete who is accused of Ivan Agafonov's murder

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, February 13 (Itar-Tass) —— A Dagestani martial arts world champion Rasul Mirzayev, who dealt a lethal blow to Ivan Agafonov, has been released from custody on bail on Monday.

Court hearings into the criminal case, which caused public uproar, were held at the Zamoskvoretsky district court. Both the prosecutor and the victim's parents insisted that Rasul Mirzayev should stay in custody pending verdict. The defendant and his lawyer insisted that the defendant should be bailed out.

The court has ruled to change the remand sanctions against Mirzayev into a bail worth 100,000 roubles and let him out of custody.

Mirzayev has been under prosecution on charges of causing death through carelessness. The defendant pleaded not guilty. Neither the defendant nor his relatives have even apologized to the parents of the victim killed at the age of 19, the parents said.

Mirzayev dealt a lethal blow to the victim near a night club "Garage" in the center of Moscow on August 15, 2011. The victim brought to hospital in a critical condition died in the morning on August 18.

Two conducted forensic examinations proved that the young man's death was a result of the victim’s fall onto an asphalt surface after a heavy blow. Nonetheless, the charges of causing intentional harm to the victim's health were changed into the charge of "causing harm through carelessness," which carries a milder verdict.

Lawyer for the victim's parents Oksana Mikhalkina did not rule out that being released on bail Mirzayev might escape abroad.

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