Criminal case launched on downing of the Russian helicopter re-qualified for a more severe punishment

Russian investigators have re-qualified the criminal case launched over the downing of the  Russian Mi-24 military helicopter by Azeri forces on November 9, Interfax news agency reported, citing own sources. 

As the agency said, the case has been re-qualified from Article 351 (violation of the rules of flights, which resulted in death of two or more persons by negligence) of the Russian Criminal Code to Article 105, envisaging a more severe punishment (premeditated murder of two or more persons).  

According to the source, the article provides for the maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

To remind, a Russian Mi-24 military helicopter was shot down over Armenia near the border with Azerbaijan on November 9. Two crew-members died and the third pilot was wounded. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry announced shortly that the helicopter had been shot down by the Azeri armed forces by mistake.