MOSCOW, September 12 (RAPSI) – The Kirovsky District Court of Rostov-on-Don on Wednesday sentenced a former lawmaker with Russia's Communist Party Vladimir Bessonov to 3 years in prison in absentia for beating police officers, the court’s press service told RAPSI.

According to investigators, Bessonov organized an unauthorized rally in Rostov-on-Don on December 2, 2011. After the police demanded to end the rally Bessonov and his colleagues refused and began fighting with the officers. Two police officers were recognized as victims in the case.

Bessonov pleaded not guilty and said he was determined to bring the Rostov police officers to responsibility, who, he believed, abused their power. Furthermore, Bessonov said that the vote to strip him of his immunity was held with violations.

The State Duma deprived Bessonov of his political immunity in July 2012.