MOSCOW, December 24 (RAPSI) – Defense lawyers for a  new defendant in the Bolotnaya Square riots case, Dmitriy Buchenkov, has filed an appeal against actions of investigators who prevent them from attending their client, lawyer Ramil Akhmetgaliyev told RAPSI on Thursday.

The appeal against obstruction of enforcement of the right to defense was forwarded to Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin.

According to Akhmetgaliyev, investigators have been avoiding meeting the lawyers for three weeks with intent not to let them attend their client and participate in the case.

Buchenkov has been detained until February 2. He stands accused of participating in riots and attacking police officers. 

Over 400 people were arrested and scores were injured in the authorized Bolotnaya Square protest that turned violent in May 2012. Dozens were later charged with inciting mass riots and battery against law enforcement officers.

Riot organizers Leonid Razvozzhayev and Sergei Udaltsov were sentenced to 4.5 years in prison each.

Other defendants in the case received prison terms ranging from suspended sentences to four years. Several defendants were pardoned; one is undergoing compulsory mental treatment.