VLADIVOSTOK, January 15 (Itar-Tass) — Law-enforcement bodies in the Primorye territory detained the suspected killer of a candidate in the mayoral election in the town of Dalnegorsk. The murder was committed in October 2006. The killer was put on the wanted list in November 2006, senior aide to the director of the regional department of the Investigative Committee /SK/ Avrora Rimskaya told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.
The suspect's name is withheld "in the interests of the investigation," Rimskaya said. He was detained in Vladivostok several days ago.
Dmitry Fotyanov, the candidate for mayor of the town of Dalnegorsk from the United Russia Party, was regarded as a key contender for the post. He was gunned down on October 19, 2006, just before the second round of voting. The investigator said the detainee, together with his two accomplices, Alexander Fedotov and Alexander Fakhretdinov, armed themselves two Kalashnikov assault rifle and a Makarov pistol, drove to a house in Osipenko Parkway in the town of Dalnegorsk, and shot the politician dead. A court passed a guilty verdict for Fedotov and Fakhretdinov in 2007. Fedotov was sentenced to 21 years in jail, and Fakhretdinov to 18 years. Both are serving their sentences in a maximum security penitentiary. Another three defendants who had not been directly involved in the murder, were given suspended sentences.
"Criminal proceedings against the detianee have been resumed; investigators are gathering evidence. They are also checking him for involvement in other crimes," the aide said.