Two opposition activists who stood accused of participating in the May 2012 Bolotnaya riots have been exempt from prosecution under the terms of a presidential amnesty, a news report said.
The Investigative Committee closed its case against Polina Strongina and Oleg Melnikov on the basis of an amnesty issued by President Vladimir Putin in December to mark 20 years since the founding of the Russian Constitution, RBK reported Friday.
Strogina, who was charged with participating in mass riots, has since been removed from house arrest and will return to her hometown of St. Petersburg in the coming days, Itar Tass reported Thursday, citing her lawyer Dinar Idrisov.
Strongina was arrested last month for supposedly throwing a bottle at police officers during the 2012 demonstrations, which saw thousands of people gather on Bolotnaya Ploshchad in Moscow to protest against the re-election of President Vladimir Putin.
Fellow activist Oleg Melnikov has also been exempt from prosecution in accordance with the amnesty, his lawyer Irina Biryukova said Wednesday on her Facebook page.
In total, about 30 people have been charged with participating in the 2012 Bolotnaya riots, with a Moscow court handing out lengthy prison terms to seven defendants back in January.
See also:
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.
