MOSCOW, January 18 - RAPSI. Opposition figure Leonid Razvozzhayev is facing charges of making a knowingly false denunciation, Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin has told RIA Novosti, referring to Razvozzhayev's claims that he was tortured by an investigator.

"Razvozzhayev was aware of the fact that the Investigative Committee had already looked into the allegations in the media and his complaint. Despite this, he continued to repeat knowingly false information to officials and to the public about the investigator from the Investigative Committee," the press release reads.

At his hearing at the Basmanny District Court on January 14, 2013, in the presence of lawyers, Razvozzhayev again insisted that he had been tortured.

Under Russian law, making a knowingly false denunciation is punishable by up to six years in prison.

Razvozzhayev, along with other Russian oppositionists, is involved in the case on organizing mass riots which was initiated after the "Anatomy of Protest 2" film was shown on NTV. The filmmakers claimed that the opposition was preparing a coup financed from abroad.

In addition, cases against Razvozzhayev were opened over robbery and his illegal crossing of the Russian-Ukrainian border.