“Practice shows that penalties imposed are actually less, so in the Ulyukayev’s case the demands of the prosecution appear to be excessive”, argues Timur Khutov, Head of Criminal Law Practice, BMS Law Firm.

Imposing the penalty of half a billion RUR is not appropriate, concurs Vladislav Kapkanov, advocate. The punishment must be practicable, he explains, and in this particular case the convicted ex-minister will simply be unable to pay such amount.​