Russian media reports that the State Duma deputy has signed a statement alleging that a Georgian official financed an opposition demonstration in Moscow in May that ended in scuffles with police.
Charges of foreign sponsorship are at the heart of a case against Left Front leader Sergei Udaltsov, who has been instrumental in opposition protests targeting Vladimir Putin and Russian democratic failings, and an aide.
As reported, investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said that Leonid Razvozzhayev, an aide to Duma Deputy Ilya Ponomaryov, voluntarily testified that former Georgian lawmaker Givi Targamadze financed the May protest.
Targamadze is an ally of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who has been the target of blunt criticism by President Putin and his allies.
The funding allegation first emerged when Kremlin-friendly NTV television broadcast the charges on October. 5.
Udaltsov today, on October 22, said that the allegations against him are groundless and added the claims about Razvozzhayev’s confession are either “disinformation” or the result of coercion.
