Tajiks Given Lengthy Prison Terms By Russian Court On Terrorism Charges

FSB headquarters in Moscow

A military court in Moscow on December 14 sentenced five Tajik nationals -- Manuchehr Buriev, Rajabali Buriev, Abdumalik Samiev, Samandar Toshmurodov, and Abduqodir Toirov -- and a Russian citizen from the North Caucasus region of Daghestan, Gadzhimurad Gasanaliyev, to prison terms between 16 years and 22 years on charges of organizing a terrorist group and plotting a terrorist attack against the Federal Security Service headquarters in the Russian capital. The defense lawyers insisted that the case was trumped-up for political reasons and the alleged crime was provoked by security officers. To read the original story by Current Time, click here.