MOSCOW, December 6 (Itar-Tass) — The magistrate section of Moscow's Tverskoy court on Tuesday meted out a 15-day arrest to Opposition activist Ilya Yashin for disobeying police during the unsanctioned rally in Moscow on December 5.
"The magistrate court finds Yashin guilty under Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offense (disobeying a legitimate demand by a police officer) and mete out a 15-day administrative arrest as penalty," magistrate Olga Borovkova announced.
At the beginning of the Tuesday hearing, Yashin insisted on recusal of the judge, arguing that she had repeatedly passed guilty rulings on him and his colleagues in the past.
Yashin's lawyer Vadim Prokhorov promptly recalled that Borovkova had not allowed politician Boris Nemtsov to take a seat for five straight hours during the review of a similar case against him in January.
Nevertheless, the judge dismissed the recusal.
Yashin denied his guilt. He said after he had seen that the number of participants in the rally in Chsitye Prudy was more than expected, he urged his colleagues not to use the subway after the rally, in order not to create a stampede, but move towards Lubyanka. The rally participants were detained illegally, Yashin claimed.
But the police who detained Yashin told the court it had been an unsanctioned march, with participants chanting political slogans and blocking the traffic. Police said they had used loudspeakers insisting that the rally disperse, "to which Yashin did not respond and was waving his arms."
Judge Borovkova said Yashin's guilt was proven by his case materials and police testimony.
Yashin's lawyer said he would appeal the court's decision.
The Opposition "Solidarity" movement gathered for a rally in Chistye Prudy in central Moscow on Monday, to protest against the results of the parliamentary elections. Taking part in the protest were some 2,000 people, according to city police.
After the end of the rally, police warned the participants should leave, but several dozen people attempted a breakthrough and offered resistance to police and tried to block the traffic.
"Moscow police responded quickly and took measures to avoid a negative development and the aggravation of the situation, in full conformity with the scope of their powers determined by legislation," the press service of the Interior Ministry said.
More than 300 people were detained, including Opposition activists Ilya Yashin and Alexei Navalny, who actively called for disobeying law-enforcement personnel.
Meanwhile, the magistrate section of the Basmanny court ruled on a 15-day arrest of another December 5 rally participant. Ivan Bogatyryov was sentenced to a 15-day arrest for disobeying a legitimate demand by a police officer, the court's press secretary Yekaterina Korotova told Tass.
Bogatyryov has already appealed the ruling. His complaint will be reviewed later on Tuesday.
In all, more than 100 materials on the detainees have been forwarded to the court. A magistrate will consider them shortly.
Police said they will "intercept any attempts to hold unsanctioned rallies in Moscow."
"The main department of the Interior Ministry asks citizens not to yield to provocations and not to participate in rallies which have not been coordinated with executive bodies of Moscow and which are illegal," police officials said.
Those who try to stage provocations despite numerous warnings, will be detained and held responsible in accordance with the effective legislation.
"Any provocations will be intercepted strictly in line with the effective legislation. Those who will try holding any uncoordinated events, are well aware that they will be detained and held responsible for their actions under the law," the Interior Ministry underlined.