Updated on
Summary Garry Kasparov was acquitted Friday of holding an unsanctioned protest.
Chess king turned Kremlin foe Garry Kasparov was acquitted Friday of holding an unsanctioned protest, although he still risks jail for allegedly biting a policeman.In a surprise verdict, a magistrate acquitted Kasparov late Friday of organising an unsanctioned protest at the sentencing of feminist punk band Pussy Riot, saying that his guilt had not been proven by police witnesses, the opposition leader told journalists outside the court.Kasparov had been charged under a law on protests that has been tightened under President Vladimir Putins third term as president, and could have been heavily fined or sentenced to up to 15 days in jail.He called the decision historic after the judge refused to accept police evidence that he had been shouting political slogans.For the first time the evidence of officers in uniform was not accepted by the court as happens every day in other courts, Kasparov said, thanking journalists for providing video and photo evidence.This decision will help many people who find themselves in similar situations, he said.The case against one of Putins most virulent critics came after police arrested dozens of protestors outside Moscows Khamovnichesky Court during the sentencing of three members of Pussy Riot to two years in jail.The punk bands members were found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after they performed a protest song against Putin in Moscows main Orthodox cathedral.Kasparov still faces the threat of far more serious criminal charges after the officer who arrested him said the chess star bit him on the hand once he was out of view of reporters cameras in the police van.A conviction for assaulting a police officer could put Kasparov in prison for five years and only further chill already cooling relations between Russia and the West in Putins third term.Kasparov has fought back, filing slander and illegal arrest charges against the arresting officer earlier this week.
