MOSCOW, September 17 (RAPSI) – Ex-lawmaker with Russia's Communist Party Vladimir Bessonov convicted in absentia of beating police officers has appealed his 3-year prison sentence, attorney Dmitry Agranovsky has told RAPSI.

The court found that Bessonov organized an unauthorized rally in Rostov-on-Don on December 2, 2011. After the police demanded to end the rally Bessonov and his colleagues began fighting with the officers. Two police officers were recognized as victims in the case.

Bessonov pleaded not guilty and said he was determined to bring the Rostov police officers to responsibility, who, he believed, abused their power. Furthermore, Bessonov said that the vote to strip him of his immunity was held with violations.

The State Duma deprived Bessonov of his political immunity in July 2012.