This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
On September 29, 2019, a Moscow court unexpectedly overturned the prison sentence of actor Pyotr Ustinov, who was convicted of violence against police during an opposition protest.
Ustinov, 23, was initially sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison, but a judge at the Moscow City Court ruled that the original sentence was too harsh.
The hearing took place after a massive opposition rally in Moscow on September 29, 2019, where over 25,000 people gathered in support of those detained at anti-government protests.
Ustinov's case sparked widespread outrage, with supporters from various walks of life, including film stars, priests, and teachers, rallying in his defense.
Initially, prosecutors had sought a six-year prison sentence for Ustinov, but later asked the court to reconsider and impose a non-custodial sentence, citing the harshness of the original punishment.
