MOSCOW, January 14 - RAPSI, Saria Kiut. Investigators have refused to release two defendants in the Moscow riots case on bail, their attorney Dmitry Agranovsky told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) on Tuesday.

In Russia, when a defense attorney requests that his client be released on bail, the decision is made by investigators rather than by the court.

Vladimir Akimenkov and Yaroslav Belousov have been accused of various crimes related to the anti-government riots that rocked Moscow last May.

Agranovsky earlier filed an application with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), complaining that the two suspects have faced inhumane detention conditions, were arrested illegally, and have had their detention prolonged baselessly.

Agranovsky claimed that the government has violated Articles 3 (prohibition of torture) and 5 (right to liberty and security) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

The attorney added that Akimenkov and Belousov did not tear off police officers' clothing, or hit or choke them, contrary to statements made by prosecutors.

Media previously reported that Akimenkov was losing his vision in the investigative isolation ward. However, the Federal Penitentiary Service has reported that there are no grounds to release him.

Akimenkov was detained on June 10. He has been charged with participating in the Bolotnaya Square riots on May 6, and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
President Vladimir Putin vowed during a press conference in December to look into the case.

An officially sanctioned opposition march across Moscow led to clashes with the police on May 6 of last year. Dozens of protesters and police officers were injured. The police detained over 400 rally participants.

After May 6, the opposition continued its protests in the form of "people's promenades," wherein crowds of opposition activists walked peacefully together through the city in a show of opposition.

In June, investigators searched the homes of various organizers and participants who were involved in the planning of the protest that ultimately spiraled into a riot, including Alexei Navalny, Sergei Udaltsov, Ilya Yashin and Boris Nemtsov's homes. Sixteen individuals were detained in the investigation.