Former FSB colonel sentenced to 4 years' imprisonment

The Moscow District Court Martial has sentenced former FSB (Federal Security Service) colonel Mikhail Trepashkin to 4 years' imprisonment.

Before the sentence was pronounced, Mr Trepashkin had told journalists he was in the pessimistic mood. Asked whether he considered his case to be a political one, the former FSB colonel said, "Yes, absolutely." The charges against him were concocted, he said.

Mikhail Trepashkin, who worked in state security agencies for over 20 years, was a lawyer until very recently. He became known due to his participation in the press conference in November 1998 during which Aleksandr Litvinenko, a former FSB officer, and his companions announced that by the FSB leadership's order, they had been involved in a conspiracy aimed at murdering Boris Berezovsky.

Elena Liptser, one of Mikhail Trepashkin's lawyers, stated they would appeal against the sentence of the Moscow District Court Martial.

Editors note: See also the article "Sentence in Trepashkin's case to be passed on May 19".