The Ilyushin Il-80 Maxdome plane was stationed at the Russian city of Taganrog, in the Sea of Azov, when the security breach was reported. It is believed that 39 pieces of radio equipment were stolen from the plane as it was undergoing maintenaince work.
Russian authorities sentenced taxi driver Zhora Khachunts to four years in jail over the security breach.
Mr Khachunts, who was ordered to pay £36,400 in damages, claims he was framed by the country’s authorities.
Mr Khachunts’ legal team claim that his DNA and fingerprints were planted on the plane.
His lawyer, Olga Boyarkina, said there were a number of holes in the account put forward by the Russian prosecutors.
Ms Boyarkina said: “The investigation did not explain in any way how Khachunts managed to get into the carefully guarded territory.”
She added: “The [prosecutors] simply state that it was done in an ‘unknown way’.
“The cameras didn’t work at the time.
“The exact date and time of the theft has not been established, so we cannot provide a specific alibi.”
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She continued: “DNA traces are not fingerprints, anyone can carry them. So the presence of traces does not mean that Khachunts personally touched the handle of the aircraft.”
She then added that no definitive account of how Mr Khachunts, who does not have clearance or a security pass allowing him access to the area, would have gained entry.
She said: “It has not been established how the thief entered the territory of the airfield, how he removed the heavy parts, where they then disappeared.
“Moreover, in the case file there is no evidence of the existence of these details in principle.”
The Russian state news agency, TASS, said that an official from the Beriev Aircraft Plant in Taganrog told the local police in December 2020 that a cargo door had been unsealed.
Mr Khachunts was detained the following month, according to the Russian Interfax news agency.
The prosecutors said Mr Khachunts had accomplices, but the investigation never determined their identities.
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