MOSCOW, December 4 (RAPSI) – The prosecution on Wednesday sought for a 3-year imprisonment of Pavel Novikov, a participant of the unauthorized rally held in Moscow on July 27, RAPSI reported from the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow.

Defense asked the court to impose a fine on him. Earlier, the defendant pleaded guilty.

According to the indictment, the accused punched a police officer with a filled bottle on the head. His illegal actions are confirmed by witnesses’ testimony and video records from the scene, investigators said earlier.

Protest actions began in Moscow in mid-July after election commissions denied registration of certain opposition members as candidates for the Moscow City Duma elections reasoning that documents submitted by them contained numerous violations.

The first unauthorized rally took place hear the Moscow City Election Commission’s building on July 14 and looked like a provocation, according to law experts.

Unauthorized rallies in support of candidates seeking to become lawmakers of the Moscow State Duma but refused registration by the Election Commission were also held on July 27 and August 3 in central Moscow. Over 1,000 people were arrested for various violations as a result.

Following the 27 July rally, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case over mass riots. Investigators believe that the protest action was held with the use of force against representatives of authority.

Several persons have already been convicted and sentenced to prison.