The prison sentences range from two and a half years to four years. A 20-year old girl who was caught on TV cameras throwing stones at policemen got a suspended sentence.

All the eight suspects were found guilty on Friday, and were sentenced by the court on Monday.

Initially there were 12 defendants in the case, but four of them were recently released under an amnesty. The remaining eight remained on trial, as the amnesty only extended to those who were suspected of non-violent crimes against representatives of authority. Of the 28 people who went on trial following the Bolotnaya Square riots eight people were released under the amnesty.

The Bolotnaya Square case is one of the most controversial in modern Russia. Some people see the trial as intimidation and hold rallies in support of the suspects and those convicted, while others call for harsh punishment for rioting, and for any attempts to pursue political ends with anything other than lawful democracy.

Since the case started the street opposition held several marches and rallies in support of the “Bolotnaya prisoners.” About 100 more people were taken to police stations on Monday morning for trying to stop traffic in the street outside the court and breaking through police cordons, but none of them faced charges. When the judge was preparing to announce the verdict on Friday, there was also a minor protest near the court building, resulting in about 50 detentions and several were fined over unsanctioned pickets.

Some of the detained – both on Friday and on Monday – were wearing costumes of roosters and elks, but offered no explanations for why.