The Vladivostok Garrison Military Court has sentenced Aleksei Ilyukhin and Dmitrii Markin to 6 1/2 and 5 1/2 years in prison, respectively, for stealing a portable antiaircraft-missile system from a Russian warship, RIA-Novosti news agency reported on 27 May.

Markin admitted to stealing the missile system to sell it on the black market. Ilyukhin was given a stiffer sentence, since the investigation revealed that he initiated the crime. Markin's trial took place after Ilyukhin's, as the former spent some time in hiding before being captured.

(RFE/RL 30.v.02)