The U.S. State Department has called on the Russian government to correct the "injustice" of the sentencing of eight demonstrators in the Bolotnaya Square protest.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. is "deeply disappointed" by sentences given by a Moscow court on February 24 to eight people arrested at a demonstration in Moscow in May 2012.
Psaki said those sentenced had a "politically-motivated trial" that lacked due process.
She said the United States is also "disturbed" by the detentions of hundreds of peaceful demonstrators on February 21 and February 24 outside the Moscow court where the verdicts for the Bolotnaya protesters were issued.
Those arrested included oppostion leaders Boris Nemtsov and Aleksei Navalny, who were given jail terms of 10 and seven days, respectively, for "disobedience to police."
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. is "deeply disappointed" by sentences given by a Moscow court on February 24 to eight people arrested at a demonstration in Moscow in May 2012.
Psaki said those sentenced had a "politically-motivated trial" that lacked due process.
She said the United States is also "disturbed" by the detentions of hundreds of peaceful demonstrators on February 21 and February 24 outside the Moscow court where the verdicts for the Bolotnaya protesters were issued.
Those arrested included oppostion leaders Boris Nemtsov and Aleksei Navalny, who were given jail terms of 10 and seven days, respectively, for "disobedience to police."
