A Hungarian appeals court on Wednesday reduced the prison sentence of a German anti-fascist activist from eight to seven years. The defendant, identified by authorities only as Maja T., was convicted for participating in assaults against attendees of a far-right rally held in Budapest in February 2023.

The original eight-year sentence was handed down by a lower court earlier this year. Both the prosecution and defense challenged that ruling on appeal, with prosecutors seeking a 14-year term and the defense arguing for a full acquittal.

Authorities allege that Maja T. was among more than a dozen activists who attacked participants of the “Day of Honor,” an annual event in Budapest recognized as one of Europe’s largest neo-Nazi gatherings. Prosecutors stated that the activists intended to pursue an ideological struggle against far-right supporters and assaulted selected individuals using potentially lethal instruments.

During Wednesday’s hearing in central Budapest, a group of Maja T.’s supporters demonstrated outside the courthouse, demanding her release. Inside the courtroom, the defendant reportedly exchanged smiles with supporters present for the session.

In the appellate decision, the court reclassified Maja T.’s role in the assaults, determining she was an accomplice rather than a direct perpetrator in one of the charges. The court also ruled that she should not be regarded as a member of a criminal organization, a charge included in the earlier verdict. The seven-year sentence is now final.