Igor Izmestyev, a former member of parliament in the Republic of Bashkortostan, who was accused in January of organizing the murder of the wife of his former business partner, notary Galina Perepelkina, in Moscow in 2001, was accused Friday of ordering an attempt on the life of a businessman in 2000.
"An attempt on the life of a certain Orlov took place seven years ago, but he managed to survive," the source said. "Izmestyev is now accused of ordering that attempt."
The source added that Izmestyev refuses to give evidence on the new charge, while his lawyers decline to comment on the investigation, saying they had signed a pledge to reveal no details of the investigation process.
The official was detained January 16 at the Bishkek airport in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan and extradited to Moscow. A court formally sanctioned his arrest January 18 and the custody term of Izmestyev expires May 25.
Izmestyev pleaded not guilty to previous charges saying, "The charge is absurd. I was abducted."
"The money is the only reason," he said earlier, adding that he had been detained by force and had suffered psychological and physical pressure.
His lawyer, Vladimir Sementsov, said earlier that Izmestyev had been asked to pay 80 million rubles ($3 million) to secure his release.
