Russian-Armenian civic activist Mikhail Abrahamyan, who had defended the journalists from the attack of a Cossack during a rally, was sentenced to one year in prison.   

The aforementioned incident had taken place on January 12 in Sochi city, where a protest was held against the local police.

During the rally, the Cossack’s regional community chieftain Vladimir Demyanenko had hit a photographic device and attempted to seize the video camera of the journalists. And Abrahamyan had intervened in the scuffle that had started, Novaya Gazeta writes. Subsequently, Demyanenko had stated in the police precinct that he was beaten, and as a result the police had launched a criminal case against Abrahamyan.        

It is noteworthy, however, that the incident was recorded on camera. Many questions would have been answered if the recorded footage had been viewed during the respective trial. But the court had declined from viewing this recording.