MOSCOW, August 25 (RAPSI, Yelizaveta Ponomareva) – The Moscow City Court has sentenced Alexander Staykhevich, a member of a crime syndicate allegedly led by Aslan Gagiyev, to 18 years in prison as he was found guilty of murders, gangsterism, and other crimes, the press service of the Russian Investigative Committee informs on Friday.

The court said that in 2004 Staykhevich joined a criminal organization established by Georgian-born Aslan Gagiyev, which operated in Moscow, Moscow Region, and North Ossetia. Staykhevich took part in 14 murders and kidnapping.

Russian investigators claim that Georgian-born Aslan Gagiyev’s gang has been operating since early 2000s and includes over 50 members.

Members of the gang have reportedly committed more than 60 murders in Moscow and North Ossetia, including murders of officials, law enforcement officers and businessmen.

Twenty two members of the gang have already received long prison terms; two of them have been sentenced to life.

Some alleged members are still in detention; 9 are on the Russian and international wanted lists.

Gagiyev, who was arrested in Austria in January 2015 but released on bail, faces life sentence in Russia.