Federal Security Service (FSB) Colonel Sergei Stolba, who was drunk in his office, fatally wounded private Denis Zharikov with an automatic weapon November 26, 2005. Zharikov died in the hospital January 3.
"The suspect has been found guilty of mishandling a weapon, which led to the death of the soldier," said the military court in Tula, 100 miles south of Moscow.
The court also ruled that the officer, who partially admitted his guilt, should pay 200,000 rubles ($7,500) in compensation to the soldier's family.
The lawyer acting for Zharikov's family said she will appeal the ruling, which she called too mild.
"We entirely disagree with the verdict, we believe it is too mild," Maria Sereda said. "Therefore, we will certainly file an appeal with a higher court."
The prosecution had insisted Colonel Stolba be found guilty of abuse of office, illegally buying and carrying arms and deliberately injuring the private.
Prosecutors demanded 12 years in prison for Stolba, and insisted he should be stripped of his military rank and awards, and be barred from state positions for three years following his release.
Qualifying the case as mishandling a weapon is outrageous, the lawyer said.
"This court decision is absolutely ungrounded and is therefore unlawful," Sereda said.
The Russian Army has been plagued by hazing and torture cases since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and a series of senior military officials were fired this year over the high fatality rate in Army ranks.
