MOSCOW, December 3 - RAPSI. Yusup Temerkhanov has pleaded not guilty in the murder of former Colonel Yuri Budanov, his attorney Murad Musayev told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) on Monday. The Moscow City Court held the first hearing into the case on Monday.

During the opening statement, Prosecutor Maria Semerenko told journalists that Temerkhanov committed the murder due to his hatred and animosity for a specific social group.

She added that Temerkhanov committed the murder due to a series of events that occurred in the early hours of February 13. Three military officers taking part in a special operation in Chechnya killed his father, and then burned down his cafe and his car after a skirmish between the men.

The perpetrators have yet to be found or brought to justice.

"Temerkhanov felt hatred and animosity for all soldiers who carried out their duty and took part in counter-terrorist operations and decided to commit a murder," she said. "He chose Budanov, whose name was well-known, and who was the most renowned figure of this social group."

She stressed that Temerkhanov received a fake passport, found his accomplices, and purchased a car with counterfeit documents. After Budanovs murder, he burned the car and hid.

Musayev has called the charges contrived.

In July 2003, Budanov was convicted of war crimes in Chechnya. A military court found him guilty of abuse of power in connection with the kidnapping and murder of Kungayeva. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and deprived of his military rank, state awards and the opportunity to hold official positions for three years after his release. In January 2009 he was released on parole.

Budanov was shot dead in June 2011 as he walked out of a notary office on Komsomolsky Prospekt in Moscow. Investigators reported that he was shot by Temerkhanov eight times.Temerkhanov, who was previously known as Magomed Suleimanov, has been charged with aggravated murder and weapons possession in connection with the death of Budanov.