MOSCOW, December 05. /ITAR-TASS/. Moscow regional court on Thursday set the date for passing the verdict in a plane hijacking attempt case for December 9.

On January 11, Kabalov, on a flight from Hurghada to Moscow, took actions "towards hijacking the plane," using violence and threatening violence, the investigators said.

The prosecutor, in an emotional speech insisted that defendant Sergei Kabalov was guilty on two counts, including battery, urging the jurors to "do their civic duty to put a barrier to air hooligans."

Kabalov denied the plane hijacking charges, while his lawyers called the incident "a provocation by incompetent plane crew members."

Following the incident, Kabalov was put on the international wanted list and detained in Grodno region, Belarus, on March 7. He was convoyed to Moscow on May 18.

If convicted, he might face seven to 12 years in prison.