A Moscow court has extended the pre-trial detention term for three activists detained at violent anti-Kremlin protests on May 6 on Bolotnaya Ploshchad, Interfax reported Friday.
Andrei Barabanov will remain in detention until May 28, Stepan Zimin until June 8 and Yaroslav Belousov until June 10, the Basmanny District Court ruled as it extended the investigation period and set July 6 as the new deadline for the investigation into the clashes that occurred between police and protesters on the eve of President Vladimir Putin's inauguration.
The extension was attributed to the complexity and high work load of the case: A spokesman for the Investigative Committee told Rapsi legal news portal that investigators still needed to go over 60 volumes of case files.
A total of 21 activists are accused of organizing mass riots and violence against police officers during the opposition rally on Bolotnaya Ploshchad, where more than 400 protesters were detained. Fifteen of them remain in pre-trial detention.
(MT)
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
