Fury after glamorous daughter of city deputy jailed for 'only' 3 years for killing two

She killed a police lieutenant colonel and his friend who were waiting at a red light in the city of Irkutsk. She was sentenced to three and a half years in a prison colony for 'violation of traffic rules in a state of intoxication, resulting in the death of two persons'. But the victims' widows argue the sentence for the legislator's daughter is milder than demanded by the law. They have vowed to appeal.

The fatal crash was on 27 July, deep in the night, when Kiseleva failed to stop at the traffic light and rammed the Toyota Highlander. Albert Sokolov, 35, was killed instantly, and Denis Matveyev, 33, died in hospital. 

Widow Elena Sokolova said: 'We do not accept this verdict. We are so shocked. How can she be punished for the murder of two persons with three and a half years in colony-settlement?'

Veronika Matveyeva told the final court session: 'For us it is a great loss, for both our families. Our husbands were the mainstay for everyone. They were sons, husbands and fathers. This is a loss that cannot be recovered. Our children will never see their fathers. We demand the maximum punishment.'

The widows argue that the law demands a sentence of between six and seven years in jail.

Kiselova is the daughter of local legislator and chief physician of city hospital No 8, Zhanna Eseva. Soon after the crash, Mrs Eseva resigned from her post as a parliamentary deputy but later returned to the city parliament again. She refused to comment her decision. 

The beauty parlour owner, mother of a three year old daughter, said she caused the crash after a furious row with her ex-husband. 

'I was crying, I was shaking,' she told the court in Irkutsk. 'I was hysterical after the argument with my ex-husband. Obviously because of the stress and too much alcohol I just passed out, I do not remember anything.' 

Earlier she had been drinking with a male friend, Nikita Sokov, 19.

Kiseleva's lawyers Alexander Zharkikh and Tatyana Vigo asked to postpone the punishment until her daughter turned 14, an option which is available to Russian judges. They argued that Kiselova had cooperated with the investigation, and pleaded guilty. She was suffering health problems since the crash but had paid compensation to the families of the men she killed. 

Police said the speed limit where the crash occurred was 60 kilometres per hour. 

Kiselova's father Sergey Esev is former chief physician of an FSB security service clinic. Two days after the crash Mrs Eseva said: 'I am a mother, and I will help my daughter in this situation, but I do not accept the speculation that my deputy status may prevent an objective and fair investigation. As a doctor, I continue my work for Irkutsk and its residents.' 

Shocking video footage of the crash showed the Mercedes ramming the Toyota at high speed. Mr Sokolov had a four year old daughter, and Mr Matveyev an eight year old son.