22 Dec 2016 17:17

Lawyer for Karaulova says appeal against his client's sentence has been filed

MOSCOW. Dec 22 (Interfax) - The defense lawyers for former MSU student Alexandra Ivanova (Varvara Karaulova), who has been sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for trying to join the Islamic State terrorist organization (banned in Russia), have already filed a brief appeal against the sentence.

"We have already appealed. We have written everything and handed it in," lawyer Sergei Badamshin told reporters.

The lawyer said he believes the sentence is too harsh.

"Today is a sad day. Despite a very harsh and ungrounded result, Varvara accepted it with dignity. She told me after the sentencing that we were right not to use the special [trial] procedures," the lawyer said.