Hostage taking at the airport: what sentence the prosecutor requested

Tengrinews.kz – The trial of Mashrapbek Baratov, who took a female airport employee hostage in early March, is ongoing in the Turksib District Court of Almaty. The prosecutor has requested a prison sentence of over 10 years.

During the closing arguments, the prosecutor asked for 10 years and 6 months of imprisonment in a medium-security facility. Baratov’s admission of guilt was considered a mitigating factor. There were no aggravating circumstances. The state prosecutor also requested that the time Baratov has spent in custody since March 7 be counted toward his sentence.

Baratov’s lawyer stated that her client was in a difficult life situation. She emphasized that he had no malicious intent, there was no explosive device, and his threat was made in an emotional state. No harm was caused to the victim, the defendant showed remorse and admitted guilt. The defense asked the court to consider his age and the mitigating circumstances and to impose the minimum possible sentence.