MOSCOW, July 12 (RAPSI, Oleg Sivozhelezov) – A prosecutor has requested to sentence defendants in the case over the murder of prominent Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov to prison terms varying from 17 years to life, RAPSI reports from the Moscow District Military Court on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Maria Semenenko asked the court to sentence alleged killer of Nemtsov, Zaur Dadayev, to life. She also demanded a 23-year prison term for Anzor Gubashev, a 21-year prison sentence for Shadid Gubashev, 19 years in prison for Temirlan Eskerkhanov and 17 years for Khamzat Bakhayev. The prosecutor believes that all defendants, except for Zaur Dadayev, must serve their time in a high-security penal colony.

Semenenko also asked the court to fine each defendant 200,000 rubles (about $3,300) and to restrict freedom of Eskerkhanov, Bakhayev and Gubashev brothers for additional two years.

During the hearings, the prosecutor noted that there are mitigating factors for certain defendants, such as positive characteristics and young children.

Bakhayev’s lawyer Zaurbek Sadakhanov asked the judge to pardon his client. A lawyer representing Nemtsov’s family also reinforced previously stated opinion that there is not enough evidence to prove Bakhayev’s guilt.

Dadayev’s lawyer asked to disband the jury panel to remove all doubt about his client’s guilt. Other lawyers asked to pardon their clients or mitigate their sentences.

Ruling in the case is expected to be announced on July 13.

In late June, jurors found all the defendants guilty of involvement in the politician’s murder and illegal trafficking in firearms and ammunition. According to the verdict, they did not deserve leniency.

The jury panel stated that one of defendants, Dadayev, conspired with others, was stalking and collecting data on Nemtsov, prepared murder and killed the politician himself, shooting his victim at least six times from an unidentified gun.

Boris Nemtsov, 55, a prominent opposition politician, who held a number of high-ranking posts in the Russian government in the 1990s and in the 2000s joined the opposition, was shot down in the center of Moscow as he walked across a bridge near the Kremlin on the night of February 28, 2015.

Investigators believe that the conspirators in the murder had thoroughly prepared to commit this crime and spied on the victim.

Five men have been charged with contract murder, illegal acquisition, carrying and keeping of weapons.

Ruslan Mukhudinov, a former officer in Chechen Interior Ministry, is believed to be a mastermind of the murder. He was placed on the international wanted list in November 2015. Beslan Shavanov, who allegedly was also implicated in the crime, reportedly killed himself when police tried to arrest him.

Criminal prosecution of Shavanov was dismissed because of his death. Investigation into Mukhudinov is underway.