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Two defendants in Bolotnaya riots case released under recognizance not to leave

Until today, Rikhard Sobolev and Oleg Arkhipenkov were in custody under a court ruling
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, August 10 (Itar-Tass) — Two defendants in the case of riots on Moscow’s Bolotnaya Square on May 6 were released under a recognizance not to leave the city, spokesman for the Russian Investigations Committee Vladimir Markin said on Friday.

“Now that investigative procedures in their respect are over and taking into account the fact that both reside in Moscow, investigator have taken a decision to change the measure of restraint to Oleg Arkhipenkov and Rikhard Sobolev and to release them under a recognizance not to leave,” the spokesman said.

Rikhard Sobolev, an electrician of the MGTS telephone company, and Oleg Arkhipenkov, the commercial director of Adria OOO, were detained in June on charges of taking part in mass disturbances (part 2, article 212 of the Russian Criminal Code). Until today, the two men were in custody under a court ruling.

As of now, a total of 16 people are defendants in the Bolotnaya Square riots case. Earlier, charges of taking part in mass riots and using force against law enforcers (part 2, article 212 and part 1, article 318 of the Russian Criminal Code) were brought against Maxim Luzyanin, Andrei Barabanov, Stepan Zimin, Denis Lutskevich, Alexandra Dukhanina, Yaroslav Belousov, Artem Savelov, Alexander Kamensky, Nikolai Kavkazsky, Alexei Polikhovich, and Mikhail Kosenko. Oleg Arkhipenkov, Rikhard Sobolev, Vladimir Akimenkov, and Fyodor Bakhov are accused of taking part in mass disturbances, and Maria Baronova is facing charges of calling for riots. Twelve of them were taken to custody, Baronova was released under a recognizance not to leave, and Alexendra Dukhanina, 18, was placed under home arrest.

On May 6, an authorized opposition action March of Millions resulted in clashed with the police and mass disorders. Protesters tried to break through police cordons. Some threw bottles and flares and offered resistance to the police seeking to tear off headpieces from policemen. More than 400 protesters were detained on that day. About 30 police officers and dozens of protesters were hurt.