A Swedish court on Tuesday detained a Russian man accused of being involved in the 1999 kidnapping of a photographer in Chechnya, pending an extradition request by Russian authorities.

The 29-year-old man, identified in court documents as Magomed Uspayev, with the alias Maga Zahkijev, is accused by Moscow of taking part in the kidnapping of Vladimir Yatsina, a photographer for the news agency Itar-Tass. Yatsina was captured by Chechen rebels in July 1999, and later shot dead by those who held him hostage.

Sweden’s Justice Department received a Russian extradition request for Uspayev earlier this month, which will be decided at a later date.

Uspayev’s lawyer, Richard Backenroth, could not be reached for comment, but told Swedish news agency TT that his client was innocent of the charges.

“He does not deny taking part in the conflict, but he denies any involvement in the kidnapping,” Backenroth was quoted as saying.

Uspayev claims to be a cousin of Chechnya’s late former president and rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov, which Backenroth said is the reason he is being targeted by Russian authorities.

Prosecutors could not immediately be reached for comment.

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