MOSCOW, November 11 (RAPSI) – The Basmanny District Court of Moscow has issued an arrest warrant for Russian tycoon Telman Ismailov in absentia as part of a double homicide case, according to the court database.

The businessman could face life imprisonment if convicted.

Ismailov’s lawyer Marina Rusakova told RAPSI that the ruling had been appealed. The Moscow City Court will consider the appeal on November 15, the attorney added.

The criminal case against Ismailov is reportedly connected with the murder of businessman Vladimir Savkin and founder of Lublino-Motors auto service centre Yury Brylev in May 2016. The tycoon’s brother Rafik Ismailov and one more man Mekhman Kerimov were allegedly involved in the double homicide. Kerimov has pleaded guilty.

Telman Ismailov, who controls AST Group, is one of Russia’s richest men. In 2009, he clashed with law enforcement authorities over the Cherkizovsky outdoor market, which evolved from a mere flea market into an industrial-scale distribution hub for Chinese imports during the oil boom. The market was closed after sanitary authorities found major violations.

In March, the Moscow Commercial Court declared Ismailov bankrupt. Later, the Tenth Commercial Court of Appeals upheld this ruling.