Supreme Court upheld the sentence in Igor Sutyagin’s case

The Supreme Court decided to upheld the verdict in the case of Igor Sutyagin, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in April 2004, after a trial in which the Russian security service accused him of treason and espionage. The defense appealed that verdict citing numerous procedural violations, which effectively denied Sutyagin his right to a fair trial. The appeal for a new trial was supported by a number of international human right organizations, as well as by the international scientific community. The Supreme Court, however, chose to ignore the defense’s arguments and let the sentence stand. In accordance to the Russian practice, the Supreme Court did not give any justification for its decision.

The Supreme Court decision means that Igor Sutyagin has now exhausted virtually all possibilities for an appeal within the Russian judicial system. The defense is now considering an option of filing an appeal to the European Court. Igor Sutyagin’s case has also drawn attention of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which assigned a rapporteur on the case in June 2004.