MOSCOW, August 9 (RIA Novosti)-A colonel in Russia's security services was sentenced to 13 years in prison Wednesday for spying, a RIA Novosti correspondent reports from the courtroom.
Sergei Skripal was convicted of "treason in the form of espionage."
Chief Military Prosecutor Sergei Fridinsky said he was satisfied with the verdict, adding that Skripal would serve his sentence in a high-security penal colony.
"Skripal was accused of spying for foreign intelligence services," the prosecutor said.
Fridinsky said he was sure Russia's security services would be able to repair the damage Skripal did to the state.
Fridinsky said he had asked the court to sentence Skripal to 15 years, but the court had taken into account mitigating circumstances such as the convict's admission of guilt, assistance to the investigation and poor health.
