The two Russian mobsters convicted in an international assassination plot targeting the Iranian American dissident Masih Alinejad were sentenced to 25 years in prison in a New York courtroom on Wednesday.
Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov were found guilty in Manhattan federal court this March of charges including murder-for-hire and attempted murder in aid of racketeering.
Iran has targeted Alinejad for years because of her advocacy for women’s rights and unflinching criticism of the regime. Alinejad, who in addition to her activism is a journalist and author, has publicized Tehran’s human rights attacks on social media – and demanded change.
Alinejad described the pain that continues to linger from this assassination attempt in an address to the court about 30 minutes before the judge, Colleen McMahon, issued her sentence.