MOSCOW, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Russian prosecutors have asked that former Federation Sen. Igor Izmestyev be sentenced to life in prison for his conviction on terrorism charges.
The former member of Russia's upper house of Parliament was accused along with 12 others of forming a criminal enterprise responsible for the deaths of dozens of people, The Moscow Times reported Wednesday.
In addition, Izmestyev was accused of underpaying taxes for his oil company by more than $95 million.
He has denied the charges and said his prosecution was linked to his refusal to sell a Moscow area mansion located near the prime minister's residence.
Human rights groups published a letter to President Dmitry Medvedev last week saying Izmestyev was innocent and had been denied a fair trial.
Izmestyev moved to Switzerland in 2006 after serving five years in the Russian Federation Council.
He was detained during a trip to Kazakhstan in 2007 and extradited to Russia.
