New Bolotnaya Square defendant suspected of using umbrella to attack police

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, the main federal investigating authority in Russia, has explained today’s arrest of 24-year-old activist Ivan Nepomnaschikh, a new Bolotnaya Square defendant. Authorities have declared that on May 6 2012 Nepomnaschikh hit a policeman several times with his hands and with an umbrella.

The Investigative Committee has stated that they are in possession of video proof. The videos have not been made public.

Ivan Nepomnaschikh is suspected of participating in mass riots (article 212 of the Russian Criminal Code) and attacking police (Article 318 of the Russian Criminal Code) during an opposition march on May 6 2012. He has not yet been formally charged.

On February 26 an arrest warrant hearing for Nepomnaschikh will be held at the Basmanny Court in Moscow.

There is sufficient evidence to prove his guilt, which can be found in confiscated videos which show that the accused committed an act of violence towards police officers, in the conclusions of a judicial criminalistics examination confirming the identity of Nepomnaschikh in the videos, as well as in testimonies of victims and witnesses.

On May 6 2012, the day before the inauguration of Vladimir Putin, an opposition march was held in Moscow and resulted in clashes between protesters and the police. Dozens of people were injured. No police officers have been charged.

24-year-old Ivan Nepomnaschikh from Sergiyev Posad is the 33rd defendant in the Bolotnaya Square case.

Currently 12 people are under arrest in the Bolotnaya Square case, including Nepomnaschikh. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against 33 people, some of whom have been granted amnesty.