Russian opposition activist, Leonid Razvozzhayev, was accused of an armed robbery in 1997, in addition to the recent charges of mass disorders organization.
Razvozzhayev, an activist with the Left Front political movement, was charged with robbing a businessman of 500 fur hats and video cameras in the East Siberian city of Angarsk. Russia's Investigation Committee spokesman said the case had been suspended in 1997 but had been brought again this November after the victim’s wife complained that the crime had still not been solved.
In their turn, Left Front members believe the authorities are determined to lock up their political opponents in every possible way.
The criminal case against Razvozzhayev and several other opposition activists, including the leader of Left Front, Sergey Udaltsov, was launched following a grainy, low-quality footage aired by the pro-Kremlin television channel NTV. As producers said, it showed a meeting between the suspects and Georgian officials where they discussed a plan to stage mass protests in several Russian cities.
Razvozzhayev claimed he was kidnapped by Russian special services and then was forced to give confessions after tortures and intimidations.
If found guilty of the plot the opposition members could be sentenced to up to10 years in jail.
Author: Julia Alieva