MOSCOW, July 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Supreme Court rejected Monday an appeal against lodged by prosecutors a five-year prison term for Mukhtar Atayev, a separatist leader, for forming an illegal armed unit and organizing a rebellion in southern Russia.
The Supreme Court of Russia's North Caucasus republic of Daghestan sentenced Atayev to five years in jail on December 6 but prosecutors later appealed the ruling for being too lenient.
Prosecutors said Atayev had engaged in propaganda of a Shariah republic in his home town of Karamakhi in north Daghestan in 1997-99. They said he had formed and led an armed group, and then organized an armed rebellion in Karamakhi in 1999 that was put down by the federal forces.
Atayev then fled and was on the federal and international wanted list but gave himself up in August 2004. He was released but bound over to stay in his town for the duration of the investigation and trial period. However, he was arrested in April 2005 and stood trial in September.
In court, Atayev denied all charges and said he had only engaged in religious enlightenment.
Prosecutors had asked for a 20-year sentence, and lawyers requested acquittal. But the court based its 5-year verdict on Atayev's surrender, help in investigation and poor health.
