Russian court sentences radical Islamist to 23 years in jail

PanARMENIAN.Net - A regional court in Russia’s southern Stavropol territory on Thursday, May 24 sentenced radical Islamist, Viktor Dvorakovsky, to 23 years in a high-security prison, a court official said, according to RIA Novosti.

Dvorakovsky, 24, has been convicted of plotting a terrorist attack, an attempt on the life of a police officer, of making of improvised explosive devices, inciting racial hatred, and fraud.

“Dvorakovsky has been sentenced to 23 years in a high-security correctional facility, two years of probation and a 100,000-ruble fine,” the official said.

His accomplice, Vladimir Skirko, was sentenced to six years, in a general population correctional facility, on charges of extremism and possessing illicit drugs.

Prosecutors say Dvorakovsky converted to Islam and, with Skirko, started an active extremist propaganda campaign in the Stavropol territory in 2010.

He was put on a wanted list after a self-made bomb accidentally exploded in his Pyatigorsk apartment in March 2011.

Dvorakosky was arrested in July 2011. During the arrest, he tossed a self-made bomb, injuring a police officer. He tried to throw two more bombs at the policemen, but they exploded in his hands. His right hand was torn off in the blast.

In preparation for his terror attacks, the “Russian Wahhabi” stole over 25,000 rubles (about $790) from a bank, prosecutors said.