MOSCOW, May 22 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Federal Security Council chief said Tuesday two people detained on suspicion of planning to assassinate St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko last week are religious extremists.
Two Russian criminal suspects, both residents of the Leningrad Region, were detained in a special operation on May 16, 2007. During the search, operatives seized two F-1 hand grenades and more than 500 grams of plastic explosives, Nikolai Patrushev said.
"A criminal case has been opened and an investigation is underway," Patrushev said.
The suspects could face 12 to 20 years in prison for attempted murder of a government official, and five to eight years in prison for illegal possession of weapons.
Matviyenko, 58, is considered a close supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has been criticized by opponents and the public for dubious city development policies, and receiving financial support from doubtful sources.
