MOSCOW, March 3 (RAPSI) – Moscow’s Tverskoy District Court on Tuesday dismissed a 500,000-ruble moral damage claim ($7,500) filed by a former defendant in a Moscow summer riots case Sergey Abanichev against the Finance Ministry of Russia, RAPSI reported from the courtroom.

The plaintiff claimed that illegal prosecution of him, searches at his premises and detention resulted in moral damage.

Abanichev was arrested on August 5, 2019, on allegations of taking part in mass riots.

In early September, five defendants in the 27 July mass riots case including Abanichev were withdrawn from criminal prosecution due to the lack of criminal elements they had been charged with.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.