MOSCOW, February 17 (RAPSI) - Three defendants in the 2012 Bolotnaya riots case have been pardoned pursuant to a broad amnesty spearheaded by Russian President Vladimir Putin, their attorneys told RAPSI on Monday.

Rikhard Sobolev has been initially charged with “participation in mass riots” and "using violence against law enforcement officers", his attorney Maxim Korotkov-Gulyayev said. Later, investigators have dropped the charges of using violence and released Sobolev.

Case against Oleg Arkhipenkov and Alexander Kamensky has been also terminated, defense lawyers Alexei Orlov and Evgeny Arkhipov confirmed.

On December 19, Nikulinsky District Court of Moscow terminated the case against four defendants in the 2012 Bolotnaya Square riots case – Nikolai Kavkazsky, Maria Baronova, Leonid Kovyazin and Vladimir Akimenkov. On December 25, Dmitry Rukavishnikov, an aide to Russian State Duma opposition lawmaker Ilya Ponomaryov, was also pardoned. Dmitry and Anastasia Rybachenko, an opposition activist whose arrest was ordered in absentia in Russia, were pardoned in January.

Over 400 people were arrested and scores injured in the Bolotnaya Square protest that turned violent on the eve of Vladimir Putin's inauguration to a third presidential term in May 2012. Dozens were later charged with inciting mass riots and using violence against law enforcement officers.

Left Front leader Sergei Udaltsov has been accused of organizing the riots and using violence against police during the rally. In October 2012, he was ordered not to leave the city. He was placed under house arrest in February 2013. In December, the Moscow City Court sent the case against Udaltsov and co-defendant Leonid Razvozzhayev, to prosecutors for further investigation based on errors that had been revealed. In so holding, the court satisfied a motion filed by Udaltsov and Razvozzhayev.