MOSCOW, December 6 (RAPSI) – Moscow’s Tverskoy District Court ordered detention of a former defendant in a Moscow summer riots case Sergey Abanichev for 15 days for violation of the rally holding order, RAPSI reported from the courtroom.
However, the court held to release him as the punishment had been served, when he had been kept in detention in August.
On December 5, police arrested Abanichev in the Tverskoy District Court’s building without disclosing the reason.
Earlier, five defendants in the 27 July mass riots case including Abanichev were withdrawn from criminal prosecution due to the lack of criminal elements they had been charged with. The decision was made based on the results of an objective legal evaluation of all examined materials including video records, according to the Investigative Committee.
Unauthorized rallies in support of candidates seeking to become lawmakers of the Moscow State Duma but refused registration by the Election Commission were 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 criminal cases were opened. Investigators believe that the protest action was held with the use of force against representatives of authority.
Several activists have been already convicted and sentenced. Prosecution of five defendants has been dropped.