MOSCOW, 28 November - RAPSI. Red Square terror plot conspirator Ilyas Saidov has been convicted on charges relating to a foiled suicide bomb plot set to occur in central Moscow on New Year's Eve 2010. He has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

State prosecutors told RAPSI last week that Saidov had been charged with 18 counts for the attempted attack, arising under five different Criminal Code articles: terrorism, murder, attempted murder of law enforcement officials, illegal weapon sales, and banditry.

Saidov entered into a plea bargain with investigators prior to the start of trial, disclosing valuable information about key members of the terrorist group, including Ibrahimkhalil Daudov, who was subsequently killed during a counter-terrorist raid in Dagestan. He further informed investigators of previously undisclosed terrorist attacks and the places where weapons were stored, and provided information on the murders of high-ranking Dagestani officials.

Saidov entered into this agreement in hopes of a lenient sentence.

The terror plot had been set to occur on New Year's Eve 2010. Investigators maintain that Zeinap Suyunova, a member of an armed group from Dagestan, travelled to Moscow with Zavzhat Daudova, another would-be suicide bomber, and checked into a hotel on December 28, 2010. One of the bombs mistakenly detonated in the hotel, killing one of the suspected terrorists. Suyunova quickly left Moscow, but was later detained by law enforcement authorities.

Investigators have said that Saidov's role was to monitor the transport of the explosive devices. His role was minor, however, insofar as he did not actually touch the explosives when they were loaded in Dagestan or when they were unloaded in Moscow.