MOSCOW, August 10 (RAPSI) – Activist Ivan Nepomnyashchikh, who had received a 2.5-year prison sentence in the high-profile Bolotnaya Square riot case, filed a motion for parole, RAPSI learnt in the Yaroslavl Regional Court on Thursday.

The court will hear the petition on September 1.

In December 2015, Nepomnyashchikh was convicted and sentenced for participation in the riots and use of force against police officers in May 2012. Later, the Moscow City Court upheld the ruling.

Nepomnyashchikh has pleaded not guilty.

According to lawyer Olga Dinze, the riots were provoked by police officers.

The march on Yakimanka Street and the rally on Bolotnaya Square in May 2012, both authorized by the officials, resulted in mass riots and clashes with the police. Dozens of people were injured, over 400 protesters were detained.

The riot organizers, Sergey Udaltsov and Leonid Razvozzhayev, were sentenced to 4.5 years in prison. Other participants received prison terms from suspended sentences to four years. Several defendants were pardoned; one is undergoing compulsory mental treatment.

Razvozzhayev, was reportedly freed in April and put under administrative supervision for two years. Udaltsov was released on August 8. They have fully served their terms.