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Anti-Kremlin protesters found guilty amid scenes of violence outside court Anti-Kremlin protesters found guilty amid scenes of violence outside court
(about 11 hours later)
A Russian court has convicted eight anti-Kremlin protesters of rioting and violence against police at an opposition protest on the eve of Vladimir Putin's inauguration to a third term as president in 2012. Two hundred people were arrested outside a Moscow court as it convicted eight anti-Kremlin protesters of rioting and violence against police at an opposition protest on the eve of Vladimir Putin's inauguration to a third term as president in 2012.
Tension was high before the hearing, as police guarding the courthouse pulled several protesters out of the crowd that gathered to support the defendants and bundled them into buses. Demonstrators shouted: "Shame!" Police guarding the courthouse pulled 200 protesters out of the crowd supporting the defendants and bundled them into buses. Demonstrators shouted: "Shame!" A police spokesperson said those detained had attempted to violate public order. Most large outdoor gatherings in Russia require prior approval from government officials. The mother of one of the defendants said she feared that the violence in Ukraine – in which at least 75 people have died in 48 hours of clashes between police and protesters – increased the chance of a harsh verdict, as Russian authorities set out to show how they dealt with unrest.
Police detained about 200 people outside the courthouse. A police spokesperson said those detained had attempted to violate public order. Most large outdoor gatherings in Russia require prior approval from government officials. Putin says he does not use the courts as a political tool.
The mother of one of the defendants said she feared that the violence in Ukraine – in which at least 75 people have died in 48 hours of clashes between police and protesters – increased the chance of a harsh verdict, as Russian authorities set out to show how they dealt with unrest. Putin says he does not use the courts as a political tool.
The eight defendants were charged with assaulting police during clashes at an anti-Putin rally on 6 May 2012, the day before he was sworn in.The eight defendants were charged with assaulting police during clashes at an anti-Putin rally on 6 May 2012, the day before he was sworn in.
Security was tight after the defendants were led into court, with dozens of officers keeping protesters back and many more waiting in vehicles. Two women from the protest band Pussy Riot were in the crowd, as was Alexei Navalny, an opposition leader who is serving a five-year suspended sentence after a trial last year. Security was tight after the defendants were led into court, with dozens of officers keeping protesters back and many more waiting in vehicles. Two women from the protest band Pussy Riot were in the crowd, as was Alexei Navalny, an opposition leader who is serving a five-year suspended sentence after a trial last year. ReutersSome wore white ribbons – a symbol of the wave of opposition protests that erupted in December 2011 – and pins reading: "Glory to the heroes of May 6."
Some wore white ribbons – a symbol of the wave of opposition protests that erupted in December 2011 – and pins reading: "Glory to the heroes of May 6."
Kremlin foes blamed the police for the violence at the 2012 rally on Moscow's Bolotnaya Square, calling it part of a clampdown on dissent that has included restrictive laws and the jailing of critics such as members of Pussy Riot.Kremlin foes blamed the police for the violence at the 2012 rally on Moscow's Bolotnaya Square, calling it part of a clampdown on dissent that has included restrictive laws and the jailing of critics such as members of Pussy Riot.
Putin changed tack before the Sochi Winter Olympics, engineering the release of two women from Pussy Riot and the former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was widely seen as a political prisoner after more than 10 years in jail. Putin changed tack before the Sochi Winter Olympics - a major prestige project -, engineering the release of two women from Pussy Riot and the former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was widely seen as a political prisoner after more than 10 years in jail.
But Kremlin critics and relatives did not expect the defendants in the Bolotnaya case to walk free on Friday. "Almost no one doubts that the verdict will be vindictive and cruel," said Khodorkovsky on Thursday.But Kremlin critics and relatives did not expect the defendants in the Bolotnaya case to walk free on Friday. "Almost no one doubts that the verdict will be vindictive and cruel," said Khodorkovsky on Thursday.
Stella Anton, whose 21-year-old son, Denis Lutskevich, was dragged bleeding and shirtless from the protest site, said: "This trial is a reprisal and an attempt to frighten people." Lutskevich denies hitting police and said officers beat him up.Stella Anton, whose 21-year-old son, Denis Lutskevich, was dragged bleeding and shirtless from the protest site, said: "This trial is a reprisal and an attempt to frighten people." Lutskevich denies hitting police and said officers beat him up.
Anton said she was worried that with Russia blaming the violence in Kiev this week on protesters trying to oust Ukraine's president, Viktor Yanukovich, who is backed by Moscow, the Kremlin would want to send a tough message that violence against police will not be tolerated.Anton said she was worried that with Russia blaming the violence in Kiev this week on protesters trying to oust Ukraine's president, Viktor Yanukovich, who is backed by Moscow, the Kremlin would want to send a tough message that violence against police will not be tolerated.
"It seems to me that because of the events in Ukraine, we cannot expect anything good," she said."It seems to me that because of the events in Ukraine, we cannot expect anything good," she said.
Nobody was killed at the 2012 protest and the defendants are not charged with endangering the lives or health of police. One is accused of hitting an officer with an "unidentified hard, yellow object" that his lawyers say was a lemon. Putin has said anyone found guilty of attacking police must be punished.Nobody was killed at the 2012 protest and the defendants are not charged with endangering the lives or health of police. One is accused of hitting an officer with an "unidentified hard, yellow object" that his lawyers say was a lemon. Putin has said anyone found guilty of attacking police must be punished.
"Unfortunately, I think they'll get real jail sentences," said Boris Nemtsov, an opposition leader. "This trial is absolutely political, the judge is carrying out the Kremlin's instructions.""Unfortunately, I think they'll get real jail sentences," said Boris Nemtsov, an opposition leader. "This trial is absolutely political, the judge is carrying out the Kremlin's instructions."
The defendants – seven men and one woman, most of them in their 20s – were also charged with rioting. By law they could be sentenced to eight years in jail, though prosecutors asked for sentences of five to six years.The defendants – seven men and one woman, most of them in their 20s – were also charged with rioting. By law they could be sentenced to eight years in jail, though prosecutors asked for sentences of five to six years.