According to Radio Liberty, Ivan Bagayev, a citizen of North Ossetia in the Russian Caucasus, was arrested in Montenegro, and is expected to be extradited to Russia. Bagayev is suspected of trafficking arms, ammunition and vehicles to a crime gang led by Aslan Gagiyev.
The criminal ring allegedly led by Gagiyev is suspected of having more than 46 members. Currently 15 people are in custody, and 11 are still being sought. On Jan. 17, Gagiyev was arrested in Vienna.
According to Russian officials, Bagayev is also suspected of involvement in several murders that took place in North Ossetia, including the assassination of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of North Ossetia, Kazbek Pagiyev, in 2008.
According to Montenegrin police, Bagayev had a fake Ukrainian passport at the time of his arrest. Bagayev fled North Ossetia in 2009, and was added to Interpol’s wanted list.
The arrest was the result of a joint effort by Montenegrin and Russian authorities with Interpol.
