PUBLICAI Index: MDE 25/02/99

7 June 1999

Further information on UA 309/98 (MDE 25/05/98, 11 December 1998) - Death Penalty / Legal Concern

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)Anton Samoilenkov, aged 26, Russian national, publisher of a Russian magazine

Ruslan Gerbekov, aged 21, Russian national

Ivan Tziberkine, aged 28, Russian national

On 2 June 1999 Anton Samoilenkov and Ruslan Gerbekov had their death sentences commuted by an appeal court in ‘Ajman to 10 years’ imprisonment. They were each ordered to pay about US$20,000 “blood money” (compensation) to the victim’s relatives. The third defendant, Ivan Tziberkine, had his sentence overturned.

The three men had been sentenced to death by a Shari’a (Islamic) Court in ‘Ajman in June 1997 for the murder of Alexey Eltzine, a Russian businessman based in the UAE. He was stabbed to death in his flat in ‘Ajman in February 1997.

One of the men’s lawyers is reported to have argued that Ivan Tziberkine was abroad when the murder took place. Anton Samoilenkov’s lawyers are said to have appealed against his prison sentence.

No further action by the UA network is required. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.