MOSCOW, May 6 - RAPSI. Prosecutor said he is satisfied with the sentence passed upon Nikita Tikhonov and Yevgenia Khasis, who were convicted of murdering Russian lawyer Stanislav Markelov and Novaya Gazeta journalist Anastasia Baburova.

According to the prosecutor Boris Loktionov, the sentence is fair and complies with the jury’s guilty verdict.

Several days before the verdict was read, the counsel said his clients attempted to commit suicide. Loctionov believes it was a staged attempt.

Markelov and Baburova were shot dead in Moscow on Jan. 19, 2009 after the lawyer held a news conference.

According to the investigation, Markelov was murdered for his active participation in an anti-fascist movement and for defending individuals against fascism.

Earlier, Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said Baburova was shot dead as a witness of Markelov’s murder.

The Moscow City Court gave a life sentence to Tikhonov and 18 years in prison to Khasis on the basis of the jury’s verdict.

The defense counsels said they would appeal the judgment.