MOSCOW, August 14 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal filed by muscovite Ivan Podkopayev, a defendant in the 27 July Moscow riots case, against his detention, RAPSI reports from the courtroom.

Investigators said that the man pleaded not guilty and earlier escaped from the scene of the crime.

According to the police statement, Podkopayev came to the unauthorized rally with a knife, a pepper-spray pellet, a gas mask and a gavel.

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 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 well-known opposition figures including Alexey Navalny, Dmitry Gudkov, Ilya Yashin were arrested and put in detention for alleged organization of an unauthorized rally.