On May 17, 2006, Russian locals, some armed with firearms, went on the rampage attacking and burning the homes of 19 Azerbaijani families in the village. Twelve people were injured in the attacks, one of whom later died.
"The court sentenced one of the defendants to six years in a high-security colony, eight of the participants in the attacks got 5 and a half years in a high-security colony. Three people each received jail terms of 3 and a half years in a minimum-security colony, the rest were given suspended prison terms of 2 and 3 years," the official said.
He added that one defendant was released after being declared mentally unfit to stand trial.
According to police, the violence was racially motivated and aimed at the local Azerbaijan community.
The attackers also stole gold jewelry, household appliances and clothes and set fire to cars and trucks. The damage was assessed at about 2 million rubles ($84,500).
When the sentences were read out none of the 40 victims in the ethnic attacks were present in the courtroom.
