MOSCOW, January 21 (RAPSI) – Ex-lawmaker of Russia's Communist Party Vladimir Bessonov has again filed an appeal against his 3-year prison sentence passed on him in absentia for beating police officers, his lawyer Dmitry Agranovsky has told RAPSI.

The convict and defense have asked the Rostov Regional Court for vacating of the sentence and acquittal of Bessonov.

In September, the Kirovsky District Court of Rostov-on-Don found that 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 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.