MOSCOW, January 23 (RAPSI) – Moscow’s Basmanny District Court on Thursday again extended detention of the Moscow Aviation Institute student Andrey Barshay, who had allegedly given a National Guard officer a poke in the back during an unauthorized summer rally, until January 27, RAPSI reports from the courtroom.

On Wednesday, the Moscow City Court overturned a lower court’s ruling extending detention of Barshay and ordered the matter to be reconsidered.

In early December, his detention was extended until January 27 by the same court. He was absent in court as he was undergoing a mental examination, which later revealed that the student was sane and healthy.

Barshay stands charged with using force against a representative of authority. The student pleads not guilty, denies involvement in the crime he is accused of, and claims that his detention is related to the escape of one more defendant in the 27 July riots case Aidar Gubaidillin.

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 activists have been already convicted and sentenced. Prosecution of five defendants has been dropped.