despite the large amounts of evidence, a jury trial held on may 29 2009 fully acquitted taran. the verdict was appealed and protested by the prosecutor's office. on september 3, the supreme court of russia rejected the verdict and set the case for a new consideration. taran was given a new trial, and the new jury convicted him. on december 9, the stavropol regional court sentenced alexander taran to 23 years imprisonment. in addition, the court decided that he must pay 1 million and 50 thousand rubles to the family members of the surviving victims for moral damage. taran did not plead guilty and together with his lawyer, vyacheslav savin, tried to appeal the verdict. on march 16 2010, the sentence was upheld by the supreme court of russia.