Moscow prosecutors have asked a court to ban a black T-shirt with the slogan "Orthodox Christianity or Death!" as extremist, Interfax reported Monday, citing Moscow's Lyublinsky District Court.
The T-shirt, adorned with images of the cross and human skulls, is popular among nationalists and Orthodox Christian activists, including the front man of the popular rock band Alisa, Konstantin Kinchev.
Prosecutors opened an investigation into the T-shirt after seeing it on the popular Russian social network Vkontakte, court officials said.
The officials said sociology and linguistics experts have been asked to consider whether the slogan and the images incite religious hatred or propagate the exclusivity, superiority or inferiority of a certain group of believers.
If the court finds the T-shirt extremist, prosecutors will demand that Vkontakte delete images of the T-shirt, while distribution of the T-shirts will become an offense punishable by a fine.