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Russia Hands Out First Prison Term for Distributing Extremist Materials

It was the first time a court in Russia has sentenced someone to a prison term for distributing extremist materials.

Oleg Novozhenin, a resident of the northern Russian city of Surgut, was sentenced to one year in a penal colony for distributing extremist materials on social networks, the Kommersant newspaper reported Tuesday.

It was the first time a court in Russia has sentenced someone to a prison term for distributing extremist materials, the report said — similar cases usually result in a fine or a suspended sentence.

Novozhenin, the investigation revealed, posted online several audio and video materials promoting Pravy Sector, a Ukrainian nationalist group banned in Russia.

Earlier this year, Moscow resident Alexander Razumov was sentenced to seven years behind bars for attempts to recruit new members for Pravy Sector, Kommersant reported.

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