World Bulletin / News Desk

An İstanbul court has acquitted a man suspected of attempting to kill a former Chechen pro-independence leader in İstanbul of the attempted murder charge, citing a lack of evidence.

Shamsuddin Batukayev, a 55-year-old Muslim scholar and leader in the Chechen independence movement in the 1990s, previously said that his bodyguards had foiled an attempt to assassinate him by overpowering an armed man who came to his home in İstanbul posing as a Chechen seeking his help.

Bakhram Batumaev (26) was detained last year by police, and prosecutors sought 13 to 20 years in prison on charges of attempted murder. Batumaev was acquitted of the murder charge. However, he was sentenced to either serve a prison sentence of four years, two months or pay a fine of TL 10,000 for carrying unregistered guns.

The alleged assassination attempt came weeks after three Chechens were gunned down near a park in İstanbul on Sept. 16. Chechen groups have blamed Russia's secret service for the killings of the men, who were allegedly involved with Chechen fighters. Turkish authorities have refused to comment, saying an investigation is ongoing.