Russian actor Ustinov to be freed from jail after protest campaign (BBC)

Pavel Ustinov, an actor jailed for three and a half years after he was controversially accused of wounding a police officer, is to be released on bail after prosecutors intervened.

His case had prompted rare protests from Orthodox priests, and campaigns by teachers, actors and IT specialists.

Supporters said Ustinov was an innocent bystander caught up in a protest.

Prosecutors said they did not dispute proof of his guilt but said the sentence had been “excessively harsh”. Read more