By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters), A U.S. citizen of Ukrainian descent was sentenced on Tuesday to one-year and one-day in prison. He had been convicted last November of campaign finance violations along with Rudy Giuliani.

Andreykukushkin was charged with funnelling funds from Andrey Muraviev (Russian tycoon) to U.S. candidates to support a cannabis business he co-founded with Lev Parnas.

Kukushkin’s lawyers sought non-prison sentences for the campaign finance charges on which their California-based client had been convicted.

Gerald Lefcourt, Kukushkin’s lawyer suggested Monday that he assist in relief efforts to his homeland Ukraine war and receive business ethics counseling.

Manhattan Federal Prosecutors Monday dismissed Muraviev’s charges for his role in the scheme to finance campaign financing.

Washington is targeting Russian-owned businesses with sanctions, asset seizes and criminal charges in an effort to press the Kremlin into stopping its invasion of Ukraine. Russia describes its actions as a “special operations.”

According to prosecutors, Muraviev could be in Russia.

Parnas, who was born in Ukraine as well, was found guilty by all six campaign finance violations charges he faced during October’s trial. Parnas is currently awaiting sentencing.

Belarusian-born Igor Fruman, another conspirator, pleaded guilty in January to one count each of campaign finance violations and was sentenced to one year, one day, in prison.

Parnas & Fruman were known to have helped Giuliani, former Republican President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, examine Democrat Joe Biden in advance of the 2020 U.S. presidency election.

Giuliani was also the former mayor of New York City. Giuliani has denied any wrongdoing and has been cleared from all charges.