Sentence Given for Murders of Markelov and Baburova

On May 6, 2011, the Moscow City Court sentenced neo-Nazi Nikita Tikhonov to life in prison for the January 2009 murders of attorney Stanislav Markelov and Novaya Gazeta journalist Anastasia Baburova. Tikhonov’s common-law wife Evgenia Khasis, who acted as a lookout, was sentenced to 18 years in a penal colony for her role in the killing.

The verdict was reached by jury, a majority of which found Tikhonov guilty of not only the murders, but also of arms trafficking and the use of forged documents.

The prosecution had significant evidence against Tikhonov: a 1910 Browning pistol which was used as the murder weapon, recordings of the defendants discussing the murder of Markelov, CCTV footage of Tikhonov hiding weapons, and witnesses familiar with Tikhonov through their activities in neo-Nazi groups. Tikhonov confessed to the killings during interrogations, though he later withdrew.

At the trial Khasis denied her guilt in full, while Tikhonov admitted to the charges of illegal arms trafficking and trade but denied having killed Markelov and Baburova.

The formal charges against Tikhonov were: the killing of two persons on grounds of hatred (items "A", "G", "K", "L" of Part 2 of Article 105 of the Criminal Code); illicit arms trafficking (Parts 2 and 3 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code) and using forged documents (Part 3 of Article 327 of the Criminal Code). Khasis was charged with murder (items "G", "L" of Part 2 of Article 105 of the Criminal Code) and illegal arms trafficking (Parts 2 and 3 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code).

The court partially upheld a civil suit filed by Anastasia Baburova’s parents, ordering Tikhonov to pay moral damages of 2 million rubles, and to reimburse their legal fees of 40 thousand rubles.

The defendants intend to appeal.