Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 11 / Trend /
Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Yuri Popov went to Moscow to hold brief consultations at the Foreign Ministry in connection with Russian pilot Vladimir Sadovnichiy's case, a source at the Russian Foreign Ministry told RIA Novosti on Friday. He will resume his duties on Monday.
Earlier, Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Dushanbe Vladimir Vaniev said Mr.Popov went to Moscow after meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, to have discussions over pilot Sadovnichiy's verdict.
"Given the situation over the Russian pilot, the Russian ambassador in Dushanbe was summoned for brief consultations to the Russian Foreign Ministry and will return to his duties on Monday," the source said
Pilot Sadovnichiy and his Estonian counterpart Alexei Rudenko were sentenced to eight and a half years in prison in Tajikistan on November 8, when they were found guilty of smuggling, illegal border crossing and violating flight rules. The verdict has caused a backlash in Moscow and the Russian Foreign Ministry has called it 'extremely harsh and politically engaged'.