RICHMOND, Va. — A former Russian military tank commander awaiting sentencing on terror-related charges is on a hunger strike but isn’t refusing food completely, a federal official said.
“He’s basically saying he’s on a hunger strike, but he’s sneaking a few things,” Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Stalnaker said of Irek Hamidullin. “We don’t feel it’s a full-fledged hunger strike.”
A federal jury convicted Hamidullin in August of planning and leading a Taliban attack on U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Hamidullin was found guilty on 15 counts, including providing material support to terrorism. Sentencing is set for Dec. 3.
At a hearing earlier this month, Hamidullin sat with his head resting on a table. One of his attorneys told the judge that Hamidullin, who is Muslim, had been fasting.
Defense attorneys declined to comment Tuesday when asked whether Hamidullin is actually on a hunger strike.
Stalnaker said Hamidullin has registered some minor medical complaints, which have been addressed, but has made no concrete demands. He said nurses at the Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw are closely monitoring Hamidullin, and a doctor who visits the jail every week is being kept informed.
Jail officials are keeping the Marshals Service up to date on Hamidullin’s condition, Stalnaker said.
“He’s still functioning,” Stalnaker said, adding that Hamidullin is “no way near” needing hospitalization. He said Hamidullin has been on the hunger strike a few weeks.
According to prosecutors, Hamidullin is a Russian veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan who joined the Haqqani Network, a Taliban affiliated-group, and led insurgents in a 2009 attack on Afghan border police and U.S. soldiers. Hamidullin, who was captured after being shot and wounded, was the lone survivor among about 30 insurgents. The coalition forces sustained no casualties.
The case addressed the novel question of whether an enemy combatant captured on a foreign battlefield can be convicted in civilian court of being a terrorist. Defense attorneys unsuccessfully tried to have the case dismissed, arguing that Hamidullin was essentially a prisoner of war and ineligible for trial in civilian court.
