MOSCOW, August 10 (RAPSI, Diana Gutsul) – The Tula Regional Court on Wednesday  upheld refusal to release Alexei Gaskarov convicted of participation in the Bolotnaya Square riots in 2012 on parole, his lawyer Svetlana Sidorkina told RAPSI on Wednesday.

The court thus dismissed an appeal filed by Gaskarov against a lower court’s ruling.

Over 400 people were arrested and scores injured in the Bolotnaya Square protest that turned violent in May 2012. Dozens were later charged with inciting mass riots and using violence against law enforcement officers.

Gaskarov has been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison.

Riot organizers, Sergei Udaltsov and Leonid Razvozzhayev, were sentenced to 4.5 years in prison. Other participants received prison terms ranging from suspended sentences to four years. Several defendants were pardoned; one is undergoing compulsory mental treatment.