An alleged Russian Taliban fighter appeared in a U.S. federal court on November 4 , marking the first time a non-American military detainee has been brought to the United States from Afghanistan for trial.
Irek Ilgiz Hamidullin made his first appearance at a U.S. District Court in Virginia to faces charges of “terrorism offenses.”
He was captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan in November 2009 after allegedly leading three groups of militants in an attack against U.S. troops and Afghan border police in Khost Province.
Hamidullin was indicted on October 8 by a U.S. federal grand jury on 12 counts that could carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
His arraignment is set for November 7.
The FBI says Hamidullah was a Russian military officer and tank commander during the early 1980s who joined the Taliban around 2001 and has had links to the Haqqani Network since 2009.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa
