"An appeal against the guilty verdict will be considered December 26," a court representative told RIA Novosti.
The terrorist attack on the school in Russia's North Caucasus republic of North Ossetia in September 2004 claimed the lives of 333 people, including 186 children. More than 700 people were wounded.
Both the victims of the terrorist attack and Kulayev himself have asked the court to reconsider the verdict. The victims consider Kulayev's punishment too lenient, while Kulayev's defense insists it was too harsh.
Of 32 gunmen who attacked the school, Kulayev is believed to be the sole terrorist to survive. However, during the trial witnesses and people injured in the siege said that the number of gunmen was far higher, and that some had managed to escape during the assault by security forces to retake the school.
Overall, 1,128 hostages were taken.
