Evidence collected by the Investigative Committee of Russia was found by court to be sufficient to sentence Kakha Gazzaev. He was found guilty of committing offenses under Paragraphs G, H of Part 2 of Article 105 of the Criminal Code of Russia and Part 3 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code of Russia (murder, illegal traffic of firearms). Gazzaev signed an immunity agreement pre-trial, therefore the probe into him was presented separately.

Investigation and the court established that in 2009 Ilya Simonia recruited Murtazi Shadania, Jambul Janashia, Kakha Gazzaev, Nuzgar Papava and Astambur Butba to commit the murder of Vyacheslav Ivankov, also known as kingpin "Yaponchik". The offense was motivated by promise of unidentified persons to return Simonia the status of a "kingpin", or a person holding senior position in the criminal hierarchy, and to provide him with general patronage. 

Murder of Ivankov was carefully planned. His lifestyle, residence and frequently visited placed were studied. The victim was under covert surveillance which showed that he frequently visited restaurant "Tainyi slon". This was taken into account at choosing a place for the attack, escape routes, transport and conspiracy means.  The offense was committed using an SVD sniper rifle.

Investigation established roles of each perpetrator. According to investigation, Janashia and Gazzaev together with other perpetrators several times visited the "Tainyi slon" restaurant on Khoroshevskoe shosse in Moscow to carry out covert surveillance of Ivankov. Shadania also carried out covert surveillance, provided communication and took part in trafficking of firearms used for the murder to Moscow. At the moment of the murder all three were on site watching surrounding area.

According to investigation, the murder was performed by Astamur Butba. Sitting in the back of a parked Gazel car, he shot Ivankov from the SVD rifle through a tent. Ivankov subsequently died in a medical facility.

Investigation of the probe included several forensic examinations including ballistic and molecular-genetic ones that proved involvement of perpetrators in the offense.  The motive of the offense was confirmed by documents stored under Simonia's instruction that were seized during search.

The court sentenced Gazzaev to 14 years of imprisonment in a strict regime colony. 

Probes into Shadania and Janashia are being considered in court. Simonia, Papava and Butba fled from investigation and were therefore put on the international wanted list.

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