MOSCOW, May 29 (RAPSI) – Former employee of the Central Research Institute of Machine Building (the head institute for Roscosmos space corporation) Vladimir Lapygin, sentenced to seven years in prison for treason, has asked for pardon, RIA Novosti reported on Monday.

According to Lapygin’s lawyer, the petition was filed back in March.

In December 2016, the Supreme Court of Russia upheld the sentence for Lapygin. Investigators said that the scientist was transferring technological data abroad. Specifics of the case were not published because of secrecy.

The Constitution of Russia reads that only the President has the right to pardon.