VLADIVOSTOK -- Ernest Bakhshetsian, the former head of the Far East branch of Russia's Customs Service, has been convicted of abuse of office and sentenced to five years in prison, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.
Bakhshetsian's lawyer, Tatyana Belovtseva, told RFE/RL she will appeal the verdict.
The regional prosecutor has said he will appeal the sentence, calling for harsher punishment because Bakhshetsian was allegedly involved in massive smuggling.
Bakhshetsian's lawyer, Tatyana Belovtseva, told RFE/RL she will appeal the verdict.
The regional prosecutor has said he will appeal the sentence, calling for harsher punishment because Bakhshetsian was allegedly involved in massive smuggling.