Moscow, Feb 16 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Russian investigators have charged Givi Targamadze, former head of the Georgian parliament's defence and security committee, with plotting mass riots in Russia.

This was disclosed by Russian Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin.

Targamadze was charged in absentia with preparing to organise mass riots, jointly with Russian opposition figures - Left Front leader Sergei Udaltsov and activists Konstantin Lebedev and Leonid Razvozzhayev.

Udaltsov and Lebedev are currently under house arrest while Razvozzhayev is being held at a prison in Irkutsk.

In October, NTV, a pro-Kremlin TV channel, aired a documentary that claimed Targamadze had met Udaltsov to plan riots in the Russian capital.

Markin said the charges were brought after Russia received an official response from Georgia that Targamadze does not have parliamentary immunity.

The riots in question took place after a major opposition rally in Moscow in May 2012.

The rally ended in violent clashes between protesters and police.

Investigators say the clashes were organised by Udaltsov, Razvozzhayev and Lebedev during a meeting with Targamadze. All four men deny the charges.

Georgian prosecutors did not rule out that a criminal case may be launched against Targamadze should Russia submit a relevant request.

But they said Targamadze will never be extradited to Russia as it is forbidden by the Georgian constitution.