Krestina Khachaturyan attends a hearing at a court in Moscow. AFP

Investigators said on Tuesday that two sisters who killed their father after years of abuse should face murder charges, in a case highlighting Russia's dire record on domestic violence.

Three Russian sisters — Krestina, Angelina and Maria Khachaturyan — stabbed their father Mikhail to death in July 2018 after suffering years of beatings and sexual assault.

They were 17, 18 and 19 at the time.

Angelina Khachaturyan attends a hearing at a court in Moscow. AFP

Their case has sparked protests and calls for the women to receive psychological help instead of being sent to prison.

There is no specific law against domestic violence in Russia and activists have long accused authorities of turning a blind eye to abuse.

Russia's Investigate Committee said in a statement on Tuesday that it had completed a probe into the killing and was recommending charges of premeditated murder against the two older sisters, Krestina and Angelina, now 21 and 19.

Maria Khachaturyan attends a hearing at a court in Moscow. Yuri Kadobnov/AFP

The probe established that the sisters stabbed their father with a knife and beat him with a hammer, causing fatal injuries.

It pointed to "mitigating circumstances" but said the two older sisters were of sound mind and aware of their actions at the time of the attack.

They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Agence France-Presse