MOSCOW, October 7 (RAPSI, Kirill Ryabchikov) – The Moscow City Court on Monday upheld a 2-year sentence given to protester Danila Beglets for using violence against a police officer at an unauthorized rally held on July 27, RAPSI reported from the courtroom.

The hearing was held under a special procedure, without examining of evidence as the defendant pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors earlier demanded 3 years and 2 months in prison for Beglets. According to the prosecution, the man used violence against a policeman namely grabbed him by the wrist in order to obstruct his legal activity.

Earlier, the court extended the detention of Beglets until February 2020.

Protest actions began in Moscow in mid-July after election commissions denied registration of certain opposition members as candidates for the Moscow City Duma elections reasoning that documents submitted by them contained numerous violations.

The first unauthorized rally took place hear the Moscow City Election Commission’s building on July 14 and looked like a provocation, according to law experts.

Unauthorized rallies in support of candidates seeking to become lawmakers of the Moscow State Duma but refused registration by the Election Commission were also held on July 27 and August 3 in central Moscow. Over 1,000 people were arrested for various violations as a result.

Following the 27 July rally, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case over mass riots. Investigators believe that the protest action was held with the use of force against representatives of authority.

Several activists have been already convicted and sentenced to prison terms.