Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said Yerevan does not rule out taking its dispute with Russia over the management of the South Caucasus Railway to an international court if the issue cannot be resolved through negotiations. At the same time, he stressed that the Armenian authorities hope to settle the matter through talks.
The Neftekumsk City Court in Stavropol Krai sentenced Osman Kundugdyev, the former imam of the village of Kok-Bas, to 12 years in a maximum-security penal colony. He was accused of organizing an extremist group.
Investigators allege that Kundugdyev created a cell of an international religious organization banned in Russia in the Neftekumsk District and recruited two other local residents. A criminal case was opened against the organization under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code, and against his accomplices under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
The convicted man was removed from his post. The court also sentenced each of his accomplices to two years in a minimum-security penal colony.
Prior to the court's decision, Osman Kundugdyev was listed as a terrorist and extremist.