The sentencing of a Russian pilot to eight and a half years in jail in Tajikistan for smuggling a jet engine and violating border laws raises questions, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday.
“The decision on this case raises a lot of questions both in terms of the components of the crime...and the trial itself,” Medvedev said at an informal meeting with Russian bloggers.
The president said that he had ordered the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Justice to take up the case.
“Russia will make its decision after it receives an official response from Tajikistan,” Medvedev said. Tajikistan has yet to comment.
On Tuesday, a Tajik court sentenced Russian pilot Vladimir Sadovnichy and Estonian Alexei Rudenko to eight and a half years in prison each for smuggling and border violations.
The pair were detained by Tajikistan's security service in March after landing at Kurgan-Tyube airfield.
