A Russian regional court has found a blogger guilty of "extremism" for reposting on social networks a statement by Ukraine's ultranationalist group Right Sector, and handed down a suspended prison sentenced — but amnestied the man immediately, a news report said.
The Central District Court of Chelyabinsk, just east of the Ural Mountains, found Konstantin Zharikov guilty of public appeals for "extremist activity," OVDInfo news portal reported Monday.
Judge Irina Shershikova sentenced the local blogger to two years' imprisonment, with a probation period of two years, but applied the amnesty act immediately, the report said.
When prosecutors brought charges against Zharikov this spring, the blogger and political activist said he was an "active political scientist and the author of several books about the history of terrorism," arguing he had a "professional interest" in Right Sector publications and had not intended to break any laws, local Chelyabinsk.ru news portal reported at that time.
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