New Charge Filed Against Russian Activist

Russian opposition activist Leonid Razvozzhayev

A new criminal charge has been filed against Russian opposition activist Leonid Razvozzhayev.

Russia's Investigative Committee announced on January 18 that he is now accused of making a false crime report.

Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said Razvozzhayev lied in court last month when he testified that he had been tortured by an investigator.

Razvozzhayev was arrested in October for his alleged role in organizing unsanctioned "violent" protests in Moscow.

He has also been charged with armed robbery in connection with a 15-year-old incident as well as with illegal border-crossing.

Razvozzhayev has insisted that authorities kidnapped him from Ukraine, brought him back to Russia, and used torture to force him to confess.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax