US citizen of Armenian descent Andre Khachaturian sentenced in Russia to 8 years in prison in a general regime colony for smuggling weapons.
Such a decision was made by the Khimkinsky court of the Moscow Region.
At the end of December 2021, Khachaturian flew from Los Angeles to Yerevan with a transplant in Moscow. He was detained by law enforcement officers at Sheremetyevo Airport, and when detained, customs officers seized GloSk 17 combat pistol with cartridges.
37-year-old Armenian was found guilty of illegal turnover of weapons (part 1 of article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and smuggling of weapons (part 1 of article 226.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
Protection asked to justify the defendant under the 222th article in the absence of a crime, since the airline took a bag with a gun as a cargo.
According to lawyers, Khachaturian was convinced that he did not violate any law and did not specifically hide the weapon that was found in his baggage with other things.
Lawyer Igor Bushmanov said that the defendant regrets that he officially did not draw up documents for the transportation of weapons. Defenders consider the verdict disproportionate and intend to appeal it.