A court in Moscow has jailed seven out of eight protesters accused of rioting and attacking police in a May 2012 demonstration against President Vladimir Putin.
Seven men were given jail terms of between two and half to four years, while one woman was given a suspended sentence. The sentences are shorter than those demanded by prosecutors.
Security was tight outside the court, where at least 200 people have been arrested.
Hundreds of people had gathered to support the detainees in an unannounced demonstration ruled illegal by the authorities.
Some were chanting “Maidan”, a reference to the recent upheavals in Ukraine. Others chanted “freedom”, in the hope it would be heard inside the building. Some opposition activists were also calling for a demonstration later today outside the Kremlin.
Those arrested at the demonstration include opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and members of the Pussy Riot group.
