Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked his UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohamed Bbin Zayed Al Nahyan for help with the detention of a man suspected of shooting a Russian military intelligence officer during a phone call, Russian agencies reported, citing Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
A Ukrainian-born Russian citizen has been extradited to Moscow from Dubai on suspicion of gravely injuring Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of Russia's vast GRU military intelligence service.
Sheikh Mohamed held a phone call with Putin, during which they also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation within the framework of the two countries' strategic partnership, in support of mutual development.
The two leaders exchanged views on regional and international issues of interest, including current regional developments and efforts aimed at supporting security and stability through dialogue and peaceful solutions.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of Russia's vast GRU military intelligence service, was shot three times on Friday with a Makarov pistol equipped with a silencer in an apartment block on the Volokolamsk highway in northern Moscow, according to investigators.
Alexeyev, 64, was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery, Russian media said.
The Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said in a statement that a Russian citizen named Lyubomir Korba was detained in Dubai on suspicion of carrying out the shooting.
Russian investigators said Korba, born in the Ternopil region of Soviet Ukraine in 1960, was tasked by Ukrainian intelligence to carry out the shooting.
Russia said Ukraine was behind the shooting but Kyiv has denied involvement.
Russian media showed masked FSB officers escorting a blindfolded man from a small jet in Russia in the dark.
The FSB said it had identified two accomplices, also Russian citizens. One, Viktor Vasin, was detained in Moscow, while another, Zinaida Serebritskaya, escaped to Ukraine, Russian investigators said.
Reuters was unable to immediately verify the details of the suspects.
The UAE did not give any details about how Korba was detained.
WAM / Reuters