MOSCOW, October 24 - RAPSI, Diana Gutsul. Denis Lutskevich, a suspect in the Bolotnaya Square riots case, has asked the authorities to open a criminal case against the police officers who allegedly beat him, the Agora human rights association told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) on Wednesday.

"Lutskevich has referred to the head of the Investigative Committees Moscow department," the Agora human rights association reported. "Basing his statements on a forensic expert's assessment, he has asked the committee to check the facts and to bring to responsibility the police officers who inflicted physical harm on him."

In his application, Lutskevich noted that the police officers hit him in the head, chest and hands with rubber truncheons 11 times on May 6 on Moscow's Bolotnaya embankment during the March of Millions. He has said that he is confident that the officers beat him intentionally. A forensic expert assessed his bruises and scratches as minor.

An officially sanctioned opposition march across Moscow led to clashes with police on May 6. Dozens of protesters and officers were injured. The police detained over 400 rally participants.

After May 6, the opposition continued its protests in the form of "people's promenades," wherein crowds of opposition activists walked peacefully together through the city in a show of opposition. In total, 18 individuals have been arrested in this case.

Almost 1,300 witnesses have been questioned as part of the case.