MOSCOW, December 30 (RAPSI) - Defense for Russian opposition activist Leonid Razvozzhayev, who was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for participation in 2012 rallies in central Moscow, filed an appeal with the Supreme Court seeking to reverse the sentence, Razvozzhayev’s lawyer, Dmitry Agranovsky told RAPSI on Wednesday.

Human Rights Commissioner Ella Pamfilova supported the complaint, Agranovsky said.

Over 400 people were arrested and scores injured in the Bolotnaya Square protests that turned violent in May 2012. Dozens were later charged with inciting riots and assault on law enforcement officers.

Riot organizers Razvozzhayev and Sergei Udaltsov were sentenced to 4.5 years in prison each based partly on testimony by Konstantin Lebedev, who was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison but released on parole.

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