Criminal released by Vladimir Putin to fight in Ukraine executed after trying to desert

Zaur Aliyev had been serving his 18-year sentence for six years, but part of a scheme that even sees murderers trade their sentences for risking their lives in the war, but he was "shot after trying to leave"

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A notorious underworld criminal freed from prison by Vladimir Putin to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine has been put to death after trying to desert his country, according to reports.

Zaur Aliyev, 47, was one-third out of an 18-year sentence when he was accepted as a fighter.

He had his sentence overturned in a controversial scheme whereby murderers, hardened convicts and other inmates are free to sign up and fight.

Upon release, they must spend at least six months on the front lines fighting for the private military company Wagner, which works closely with Putin's Defense Ministry.

If they remain alive, the remainder of their sentence is erased and they are officially pardoned by the Russian President.

Zaur Aliyev agreed to the controversial offer (

Picture:

Mzk1/east2west news)

Tens of thousands of convicts are said to have been emptied from Russian prison cells to fight against Ukraine, but the Telegram channel VChK-OGPU has now reported that Aliyev - nicknamed Zaika or Rabbit - is seeking to flee his position as a top line.

He "decided to run away" according to our source, who said "the fighters quickly grabbed Aliyev and he was shot."

Wagner was founded by a close friend of Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who also runs "troll factories" spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda on social media in Russia and abroad.

"He was serving a long sentence, enlisted in Wagner's PMC and was killed by Prigozhin's men as he tried to escape," the channel reported.

Before his conviction, Aliyev was considered the leader of one of the most powerful Azerbaijani criminal clans in Moscow.

He was arrested by officers of the Moscow Criminal Investigation Department in November 2014.

The special operation was carried out with the support of officers from the Russian special rapid reaction detachment.

Once detained, he was beaten on the orders of a rival gang leader.

In 2016, Aliyev was sentenced by the Moscow City Court to 18 years in prison for theft, kidnapping and extortion.

Putin's desperation to recruit soldiers for the war meant that Aliyev was allowed out of prison to fight despite having served...