MOSCOW, August 8 (RAPSI) - Russian opposition activist Sergey Udaltsov, who had been sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for participation in 2012 rallies in central Moscow, was released on Tuesday, his wife wrote on her Facebook page.

It was expected that Udaltsov would leave prison on August 9. According to Anastasia Udaltsova, that was a mistake which became known shortly before release.

The activist has fully served his sentence. Udaltsov has earlier applied for parole; however, his petitions were dismissed. Russia’s High Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova has also asked for the opposition activist’s release, his lawyer Dmitry Agranovsky told RAPSI on Monday.

Another 2012 riots organizer, Leonid Razvozzhayev, was reportedly freed in April and put under administrative supervision for two years.

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