Talks on the release of the Russian intelligence agents have been held since February 19 – the day of the arrest. Russian and foreign lawyers and diplomats took part in the negotiations, but the position of Qatari authorities remained unchanged, the newspaper says.

The release of Alexander Fetisov, First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Qatar who was also arrested on suspicion of involvement in the assassination, should not be seen as a very positive sign, according to Kommersant. Mr. Fetisov enjoyed diplomatic immunity, and he was only released after Vladimir Putin promised to release two Qatari wrestlers who had been arrested in Russia. Qatari prosecutors came to the conclusion that Mr. Fetisov was not directly involved in the killing, unlike the two “analysts on the fight against international terrorism”, and this was the main reason for his release.

Meanwhile, there seems to be little hope for the two Russian intelligence agents accused of Zelimkhan Yanderbiyev’s killing. Although Qatari authorities say they want to maintain good relations with Russia, and they would be ready to make concessions, it is impossible to settle the problem through diplomacy: there is strong evidence against the Russian agents.

Firstly, it is evidence given by two eyewitnesses. Then, Zelimkhan Yanderbiyev’s 13-year-old son and a Qatari policeman saw Slavic men at a bus stop behind the mosque several hours before the blast. Pieces of wire insulation identical to the wire used in the bomb were found in a car rented by the Russian agents.

As for Mr. Fetisov, Qatari authorities say he assisted in the killing of Yanderbiyev. Allegedly, explosives for the bomb were sent from Moscow to his address at Riyadh. Mr. Fetisov also rented a car and telephones for the intelligence agents, according to Qatari investigators. But he was not directly involved in the assassination.

Given this evidence and the Russian agents’ guilty plea, Qatari authorities scheduled the court hearing for March 25. However, Russian lawyers arrived in Qatar at that time. Although they were not allowed to meet the arrested agents and see the materials of the case, the accused Russians changed their plea after they learned that their countrymen had come to defend them in court, the newspaper says. The court hearing was rescheduled in connection with this. The two agents will be held in pretrial detention until April 24. It is unclear when the court hearing will be held.