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Lawyer of two defendants in Bolotnaya Square riots case appeals to European court

On May 6, 2012, a protest action sanctioned by the authorities escalated to clashes with police and mass disturbances
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, January 10 (Itar-Tass) – The defense of two men accused of participating in the riots in Moscow's Bolotnaya Square on May 6, have lodged an appeal to the European court of human rights, a lawyer told Itar-Tass.

"We've appealed to the European court over the inhuman conditions, arrest and custody extension for Vladimir Akimenko and Yaroslav Belousov," lawyer Dmitry Agranovsky said.

Earlier, Investigative Committee officials said Yaroslav Belousov was accused of "participation in mass disturbances" and "using violence on government representatives." According to the SK, he "threw stones and chunks of asphalt at police officers, broke through their cordon and dealt blows at them."

Vladimir Akimenkov is accused of "participation in mass disturbances." The probe into the criminal cases against them is finished and the defendants are reading the case materials.

Earlier, the Zamoskvorechye court sentenced the first defendant in the case – Maxim Luzyanin – to 4.5 years in jail.

On May 6, 2012, a protest action sanctioned by the authorities escalated to clashes with police and mass disturbances. Protesters tried to break through the police cordon. Some of them were throwing bottles and flares and resisted detention by police, trying to rip off helmets from police officers. Some 400 persons were detained for illegal actions on that day. Thirty police and several dozen protesters were hurt.

In all, there are 18 suspects in the case.