Putin war commander 'charged with shooting dead woman he met in warzone bar'
A top Putin war commander faces prison after being charged with shooting an 18-year-old woman he met at a warzone bar in eastern Ukraine.
Lt-Col Irek Magasumov, 35, allegedly shot Daria Kiseleva, 18, with his army gun. Lawyers had expected a probe by military investigators to charge the commander - who was awarded with Russia's highest honour by Putin - with a lesser offence of negligent use of his Makarov pistol in Russian-occupied Luhansk.
But today, Kommersant newspaper - citing law enforcement sources - reported that the commander will be charged with murder over the woman’s death - after the Russian Investigative Committee decided that he “intentionally” killed Kiseleva. According to reports, he could face up to 15 years in jail over the death of his “casual female acquaintance”.
Lt-Col Irek Magasumo has reportedly been charged with murder (RIA Novosti / east2west news)He will also face a separate charge of hooliganism in stealing a car from a junior officer in the wake of the shooting, which could lead to a five-year sentence. Russian courts seldom dispute the findings of the investigative committee.
A video shows Putin awarding Magasumov the Gold Star Hero of Russia honour for exceptional bravery in the war. The ceremony took place in the Kremlin on August 2, 2023.
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Magasumov - who is married and has a daughter - had also been awarded the Order of Courage three times and was seen as one of Russia’s most accomplished young commanders. The committee’s decision came despite influential Russian officials backing the colonel’s version of events, including senior MP Alexander Khinshtein, who pinned blame for the shooting on another officer.
Daria Kiseleva was shot dead by the war commander (Daria Kiseleva / east2west news)The killing came after Magasumov was drinking in the Panorama bar and safe in Luhansk with a captain named Pavel Yaskevich and another officer. He was celebrating his award from Putin nine days earlier, say reports.
Two young women - one of them Kiseleva - joined the drinking session. It appears that the dead woman asked the colonel to let her shoot at bottles with his service gun in a park close to the bar. Two shots were fired.
Then it is alleged the colonel took back the gun from her - and subsequently shot her in the chest. She died minutes later. The dead woman’s friend testified that the colonel had shot her. He had considered Kiselva’s behaviour “too impertinent”, said the friend.
Magasumov pictured with his wife Anna and daughter Emilia (mamadysh-rt.ru/ east2west news)
The commander's Order of Courage (mamadysh-rt.ru/ east2west news)Some reports say there was a fracas involving mobilised troops which the colonel had sought to calm, and he claimed he was distracted. But now it appears the colonel became embroiled in a rowdy argument with troops and took a Niva car belonging to a subordinate, according to evidence in the case.
Evidence suggests the captain initially sought to save the colonel by admitting to a crime he did not commit, and hiding the murder weapon. After consulting with his lawyer, he changed his mind and gave an account implicating the colonel.
The captain is believed to have fully assisted state military investigators. In the wake of the incident, Magasumov’s wife Anna confirmed his arrest. He was deputy commander of the 74th separate motorised rifle brigade.
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