ROSTOV-ON-DON, September 4 - RAPSI. Communist Party State Duma Deputy Vladimir Bessonov, who is suspected of having beaten a police officer during an opposition rally in Rostov-on-Don, has submitted an appeal to the Prosecutor General's Office to invalidate the case initiated against him, he said at a news conference on Tuesday.

"Today, the materials were taken from the Investigative Committee and they are at the prosecutor's office. It will check to see if launching a case is valid and reasonable," Bessonov said.

Investigators believe that Bessonov organized an unauthorized rally on December 2, 2011 in Rostov-on-Don. When police officers asked the organizers to end the rally, Bessonov and his colleagues refused. The protesters then attacked the officers when they attempted to turn off the speakers, they maintain.

The Investigative Committee has submitted the case against the deputy to the Rostov Regional Investigative Department. The State Duma deprived Bessonov of his political immunity and gave consent to initiate a case against him on July 6.

Bessonov has pleaded not guilty and said he is determined to bring to responsibility the Rostov police officers who, he believes, themselves abused their power. Additionally, Bessonov said the vote to deprive him of his immunity was held with violations.