MOSCOW, September 4 (RAPSI) – The North Caucasus District Military Court has sentenced Russian citizen Maxim Martynov to 11 years in prison for plotting a terrorist attack in one of shopping malls in Rostov Region, the court’s spokesperson Alena Katkalo has told RAPSI.

According to the Investigative Committee, Martynov has been preparing the terrorist attack since February 2017 along with another man Ruslan Tambiyev. In the spring of 2017, the defendant acquired an explosive device which he later planned to activate in the mall’s building.

However, the crime was not committed because Martynov and Tambiyev were arrested on May 24, 2017, and the explosives were seized, the statement reads.

A criminal case against Tambiyev is being considered separately as he pleaded guilty and signed a plea deal with investigators.