CHERKESSK. June 20 (Interfax) - The Supreme Court of Karahayevo-Cherkessia on Thursday convicted 13 local residents for grave and especially grave crimes, Supreme Court press officer Marat Dzhanibekov told Interfax.
"Three defendants, Ismail Batchayev, Ruslan Chagarov, and Artur Uzdenov, received the longest terms, 12 years in prison. Arsen Elkanov, Kazi Uzdenov, Artur Batchayev, and Artur Ismailov were sentenced to ten years in prison. Telegen Magulayev and Rasul Gappoyev received eight years in prison," Dzhanibekov said.
Ruslan Semyonov, Shamil Gadzhayev, and Marat Bytdayev were sentenced to seven years and four months, seven years and six months, and six years and ten months in prison, respectively.
All convicts will serve their sentences in high-security colonies, Dzhanibekov said.
According to earlier reports, the defendants were charged with involvement in an illegal armed group, preparing to forcibly seize power and change the constitutional system of the Russian Federation, and other grave crimes.
The state prosecutors had asked the court to sentence them to ten years and two months to 12 years in a high-security colony.