Russian Opposition Activist Faces New Charge

Russian opposition activist Leonid Razvozzhayev, who is under investigation for his alleged role in organizing unsanctioned, violent protests in Moscow last year, has now  been charged with making a false accusation.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said on March 21 that Razvozzhayev falsely accused an investigator of illegally pressuring him during an interrogation.

The committee says Razvozzhayev refused to accept the new charge and declined to answer questions.

Razvozzhayev was arrested in October 2012.

In addition to the charge of organizing Moscow protests allegedly orchestrated by a Georgian politician, he has also been charged with armed robbery in connection with a 15-year-old incident in Siberia, illegal border-crossing, and making a false crime report.

Razvozzhayev says authorities kidnapped him from Ukraine, brought him back to Russia, and used torture to force him to confess.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax

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