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34 I Eastern Europe bne March 2019
Russian Senator Rauf Arashukov was arrested on the Federation Council floor on two counts of murder.
High drama as Russia’s Investigative Committee arrests a senator on murder charges on the Federation Council floor
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High drama in the Russian upper house of parliament, the Fed- eration Council, after officers from Russia’s Investigative Committee swooped on Senator Rauf Arashukov, who had his immunity lifted and was arrested on two counts of murder as well as other charges on January 30.
Arashukov is the representative from Karachay-Cherkessia and was accused of masterminding two killings over
a decade ago. The arrest was made by officers from the Investigative Commit- tee, Russia’s answer the to the legend- ary “Untouchables” police officers that battled the mafia in the US.
The arrest was so important that the head of the Investigative Committee
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Alexander Bastrykin personally oversaw the operation. Bastrykin is probably Russia’s most feared policeman, who has doggedly pursued exiled oligarch and
Arashukov tried to leave the chamber during a speech from prosecutor general of Russia Yuri Chaika accusing Arashu- kov of various crimes. Federation Council
“The arrest was so important that the head of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin personally oversaw the operation”
Yukos Oil owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his associates. Economist and now chief economist at the EBRD Sergei Guriev fled Russia after being ques- tioned by Bastrykin’s men in connection with an investigation into Khodor- kovsky’s business.
speaker Valentina Matviyenko insisted that he stay. The other members of the council then voted to strip him of his immunity and he was arrested on the floor of the chamber.
After the session the ruling United Rus-