Siberian Man Faces Prison for Online Call Inciting Ukrainians to Attack Russians

Aug. 15, 2014

A Ukrainian serviceman holds his weapon as he guards a checkpoint near the eastern Ukrainian town of Debaltseve, Donetsk Region.

A criminal case has been opened against a resident of the Siberian city of Barnaul on charges of inciting hatred on his social media page by calling upon Ukrainians to perpetrate acts of violence against Russians.

The 33-year-old suspect in February posted messages on his personal Vkontakte page — Russia's most popular online social network — which investigators said incited Ukrainians to commit violent crimes against Russians.

The regional branch of Russia's Investigative Committee in the Altai region said Wednesday the man is facing criminal charges under the Criminal Code's articles on inciting national, racial or religious hatred and on making public calls for extremist activity.

The legislation was amended in June to include the dissemination or support of extremist content on the Internet.

If found guilty, the man could face up to five years in prison.

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