Hearing on Case of Suspected Russian Taliban Fighter to Start Monday

A Richmond court in the US state of Virginia will hear on Monday the case of a Russian national suspected of fighting alongside the Taliban militant group in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The start of the court hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. local time (13:30 GMT), according to court files.

Irek Hamidullin, in his 50s, is a former Soviet Army officer who is believed to have joined the Taliban in 2001, according to the US Department of Justice.

He was captured by US forces in Afghanistan after allegedly participating in the 2009 attack on US troops and Afghan border police at their base.

Hamidullin has been charged on twelve counts, including provision of material support to terrorists, attempt to murder a US citizen and to destroy an aircraft of the US armed forces, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and others. The charges carry a potential penalty of life imprisonment.

US Court District Judge Henry Hudson earlier dismissed Hamidullin’s claim that he was protected from criminal prosecution under Geneva conventions on war combatants.