MOSCOW, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Chess legend Garry Kasparov said his acquittal on protest charges should send a signal to the Russian court system amid the so-called Pussy Riot crisis.
A Moscow judge Friday ordered Kasparov released after ruling there was not enough evidence to hold the ex-world champion, who was among a group of activists arrested during a demonstration after three members of the rock band were sentenced to prison for their role in an earlier anti-government protest.
Kasparov told reporters his release was "an important victory" that other Russian courts should heed.
Russia's RIA Novosti news agency said Saturday political activists and critics of President Vladimir Putin often wind up in jail on protest-related charges. Russia recently raised the maximum for protest violations to about 30,000 rubles ($950).
