A court in Moscow has ruled that three activists who took part in a protest rally on July 27 must be placed in pretrial detention.
Dozens of protesters detained in Moscow on July 27 have since been fined or given jail sentences for organizing and participating in the unsanctioned rally against election officials' refusal to register independent and opposition candidate for Moscow city-council elections scheduled for September 8.
The Presnensky district court ruled on August 5 ruled that Sergei Abanichev, Daniil Konon, and Vladislav Barabanov must be held in a pretrial detention center until September 27.
All three activists, who were charged with "taking part in mass disturbances," deny any wrongdoing.
Last week, six other activists were placed in pretrial detention for two months on the same charges. Two of the activists were also charged with assaulting police.
The activists may face up to eight years in prison if convicted.
