The Sverdlovsk Regional Court released the former head of Pervouralsk's Vodokanal, who had been sentenced to 3.5 years' imprisonment.

      The Sverdlovsk Regional Court, while considering an appeal, amended the sentence of the former director of PPMUP "Vodokanal" of Pervouralsk, Artur Guzairov. Earlier in September the Pervouralsk City Court had sentenced him to 3.5 years in a general‑regime penal colony.

      The appeal against the sentence was filed by the convict’s lawyer, the Telegram channel of the combined press service of the courts of the Sverdlovsk Region reports.

      The former director of PPMUP "Vodokanal", Artur Guzairov, was found guilty by the court of first instance of committing three crimes under part 1 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, as well as crimes under subparagraphs "e" and "v" of part 3 of Article 286 and part 3 of Article 303 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

      In addition to imprisonment for 3 years and 6 months to be served in a general‑regime correctional colony, the Pervouralsk City Court deprived him of the right to hold positions in the civil service and in local self‑government bodies related to the exercise of organizational‑managerial and administrative‑economic functions for a period of 2 years and 6 months.

      However, the appellate panel of the Sverdlovsk Regional Court, having reviewed the case materials, amended the sentence, reclassifying Artur Guzairov’s actions from part 3 to part 1 of Article 303 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and imposing 460 hours of compulsory labor.

      Since the limitation periods for bringing criminal charges under part 1 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code (for the fact of drinking water quality not meeting hygienic standards), under part 1 of Article 293 (for the accident on the Nizhneserginsky pipeline), and under part 1 of Article 303 have expired, Guzairov was released from serving sentences for these offenses.

      The court also removed from the verdict the conviction of Artur Guzairov under subparagraphs "v" and "e" of part 3 of Article 286 of the Criminal Code, as well as the reference to the imposition of the final sentence pursuant to the rules of part 3 of Article 69 of the Criminal Code.

      As a result, Artur Guzairov was sentenced to 460 hours of compulsory labor. Taking into account the time spent in custody and under house arrest, this punishment is to be considered served. Guzairov will be released from custody today. His conviction has not been expunged.