A Russian court has mandated the pre-trial detention of an individual suspected of murdering a former military officer who led air operations during the Mariupol siege.

Major Zaur Gurtsiyev, who was serving as Stavropol’s deputy mayor at the time of his death, was killed alongside his companion, Nikita Penkov, in a bombing on May 28. It is believed that the explosive device was hidden in a bag carried by Penkov.

Telegram channels linked to Russian law enforcement suggested that Penkov may have been unaware that there was a bomb in his bag. Friends of Penkov, a former police officer, informed BBC Russia that he had shown little interest in politics or the ongoing war in Ukraine.

On Friday, the Leninsky District Court in Stavropol ruled that a suspect, referred to only as “Kh.,” must remain in pre-trial detention until at least July 29. The court did not reveal the full names of the suspect or the victims, mentioning only their last initials.

The suspect is charged with aggravated murder and illegal possession of explosive devices, according to a statement from the court. The Interfax news agency reported on Monday that terrorism is being explored as one of several possible motivations for the attack.

Gurtsiyev coordinated air operations during Russia’s extensive siege of the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. His official biography states that he “implemented best practices in missile guidance technology,” enhancing the “accuracy and efficiency” of strikes.

Human Rights Watch indicates that at least 8,000 individuals lost their lives during the siege of Mariupol, which lasted from March to May 2022. Since taking military control of the devastated city, Russia has attempted to reconstruct homes and infrastructure that were damaged or destroyed by its forces.

Gurtsiyev was born in Vladikavkaz in 1990. He enlisted in the Russian Armed Forces in 2007 and graduated from the S. M. Budyonny Military Academy of the Signal Corps in 2012. He became Stavropol’s first deputy mayor in September 2024.