Russian Court to Consider Freeing Jailed Actor After Outcry

Defendant Pavel Ustinov, accused of using violence against a police officer during an unauthorized rally to demand free elections, attends a court hearing in Moscow, Russia Sept.16, 2019. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters))

MOSCOW—A Moscow court said on Sept. 19 that it would review the jailing of an actor over an opposition protest after state prosecutors formally requested that he be released on bail following a public outcry over his conviction.

Pavel Ustinov, 23, was sentenced on Sept. 16 to 3 1/2 years in jail for dislocating a police officer’s shoulder during his detention at an Aug. 3 rally in Moscow. He denied the charges and said he had not taken part in the protest.