Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Yuri Popov has left for Moscow for consultations on Friday, CA-News reports with reference to sources in diplomatic circles.
It is reported that President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon received Popov in late Thursday evening. The meeting discussed the Kurgan-Tube city court's verdict towards two crew commanders of military transport aircrafts AN-72 of Airline Rolkan investmens Ltd - Russian Vladimir Sadovnichy and Estonian Alexei Rudenko, who were sentenced to 8.5-year imprisonment on charges of smuggling, illegal border crossing and violation of international flights rules.
Sources say that at this meeting Tajik side expressed its willingness to resolve these problems within the framework of the constitutional norms of the republic, and based on the decisions of higher courts.
On Friday, the defense intends to appeal against the decision of the court of the first instance, which has become "an irritant" in the "strategic partnership" between Tajikistan and Russia.