The Moscow City Court reduced the sentence of former Kazan Federal University rector Ilshat Gafurov.

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      Moscow City Court reduced the sentence of the former KFU rector Ilshat Gafurov

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      Moscow City Court reduced the sentence of the former KFU rector Ilshat Gafurov (photo: rector.kpfu.ru)

      Earlier the court found Ilshat Gafurov guilty on two counts: incitement to the preparation of murder (8 years) and incitement to murder (18 years). In total the term amounted to 22 years of strict regime.

      The Moscow City Court reviewed the sentence against the former rector of Kazan Federal University Ilshat Gafurov, mitigating the original punishment. The prison term for the former head of the university was reduced from 22 to 18 years.

      According to Realnoe Vremya, citing participants in the proceedings, the court also decided to annul the earlier ruling on civil claims by the victims, sending those matters for reconsideration. Previously the judicial body had upheld claims to recover 20 million rubles from Gafurov in favor of each member of the deceased's family, but that ruling has lost its force.

      Recall that Ilshat Gafurov was convicted by the Savelovsky District Court of Moscow on May 28, 2025, on charges of incitement to murder. The crime attributed to him is connected with the death of Yelabuga businessman and deputy Aidar* Israfilov in August 1999. Throughout the investigation and the trial the former KFU rector did not admit his guilt, insisting on his complete exoneration. His defense has already announced its intention to appeal the new, mitigated verdict.

      Gafurov was detained in Kazan in December 2021, after which the case was transferred to the capital's judicial authorities.

      Earlier it was reported that former KFU rector Ilshat Gafurov, previously sentenced by the court to 22 years in prison, attempted to avoid imprisonment by signing a contract to participate in a special military operation. According to a source, after the sentence was handed down one of the military units sent an appropriate petition to the court.

      * The nationalist battalions "Aidar" and "Azov" have been recognized as extremist organizations and are banned in Russia.

      Arina Mikhailova

      Published: 17.12.2025 10:26

      Edited: 17.12.2025 10:26