MOSCOW, December 5 (RAPSI) – Russian tycoon Telman Ismailov has been charged in absentia with murder and illegal arms trafficking, the Investigative Committee’s press service reports Tuesday.

Ismailov has been earlier arrested in absentia and put on the international wanted list. His brother Vagif Ismailov is also wanted for multiple murder.

According investigators, Ismailov organized the murder of businessman Vladimir Savkin and founder of Lublino-Motors auto service centre Yury Brylev in May 2016. Another tycoon’s brother Rafik Ismailov and one more man Mekhman Kerimov were allegedly involved in the double homicide; they were placed in detention. Kerimov, an alleged killer, has pleaded guilty.

The businessman could face life imprisonment if convicted.

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.