Dagestani Terrorist Leader Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

The court of Dagestan, one of Russia's republics in the North Caucasus, has sentenced terrorist leader Zaur Akavov to life imprisonment. Akavov is known to have led a group of terrorists that engineered 13 terrorist acts.

Ata Atayev, a judge of the Dagestani Supreme Court who chaired the process, noted that life imprisonment was an alternative to capital punishment, on which Russia had imposed a moratorium.

Another terrorist, Artur Mamayev, was sentenced to 22 years of hard labour. Another five members of Akavov's gang were sentenced to 7-17 years in prison.

The defendants have a right to appeal against the decision to the Russian Supreme Court.