The prosecution on Monday requested an eight-year jail term against firebrand leftist leader Sergei Udaltsov for his alleged instigation of Moscow's violent Bolotnaya riots in 2012, Interfax reported.
The same sentence was requested for Udaltsov's alleged accomplice Leonid Razvozzhayev, who also faces a fine of 150,000 rubles ($4,300), RIA Novosti said.
Prosecutors claim Udaltsov and his leftist allies, funded by a politician from Georgia — then an enemy of the Russian regime — staged clashes with police at an opposition rally on Moscow's Bolotnaya Square on May 6, 2012.
Udaltsov — who has weathered more than 100 arrests for unsanctioned protests during the course of his political career — has repeatedly claimed the case was fabricated in retribution for his anti-Kremlin campaigning.
News reports did not give a date for the ruling, which will be handed down by the Moscow City Court.
Udaltsov has remained under house arrest since February 2013. Razvozzhayev has been in pretrial detention since his extradition from Ukraine amid torture allegations in October 2012.
More than 600 protesters were briefly detained at Bolotnaya Square; 27 have since faced criminal prosecution.
Opposition leaders blamed the clashes on police having mishandled the crowd during what was meant to be a peaceful march. No law enforcement officers have faced prosecution over the riots.
See also:
Police Surprises Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny With Nighttime Raid
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.
