A Russian court has acquitted opposition leader Garry Kasparov of charges that he participated in an unauthorized rally in support of jailed members of anti-Kremlin punk collective Pussy Riot.
Kasparov, a former chess champion, was detained on August 17 at a rally supporting the feminist group outside the Moscow court where three of its members were sentenced to two-year prison terms.
Kasparov and dozens of others were rounded up violently by police and thrown into a police van.
Kasparov was questioned later after one policeman accused him of biting his hand.
In the surprise August 24 ruling, the court cleared Kasparov of participating in an unsanctioned rally.
Kasparov has said he plans to file a complaint against his detention and to file slander charges against the police officer who accused him of biting his hand.
Kasparov, a former chess champion, was detained on August 17 at a rally supporting the feminist group outside the Moscow court where three of its members were sentenced to two-year prison terms.
Kasparov and dozens of others were rounded up violently by police and thrown into a police van.
Kasparov was questioned later after one policeman accused him of biting his hand.
In the surprise August 24 ruling, the court cleared Kasparov of participating in an unsanctioned rally.
Kasparov has said he plans to file a complaint against his detention and to file slander charges against the police officer who accused him of biting his hand.
