Russian court convicts 8 people for their role in 2012 Moscow protest

MOSCOW – A Russian court has convicted eight people for their role in a 2012 protest against Vladimir Putin that turned violent, following a trial seen as part of the Kremlin’s efforts to stifle dissent.

Moscow’s Zamoskvoretsky District Court delivered its verdict on Friday. Outside the court building, police detained about 50 of a few hundred people who came to support the defendants.

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The May 6, 2012 protest on the eve of Putin’s inauguration for a third presidential term turned violent after police restricted access to the square where the rally was to be held. Some demonstrators hurled bottles and pieces of asphalt at police, who struck back by beating protesters with truncheons and detained more than 400.

After his inauguration, Putin initiated a series of tough anti-protest laws.