Anti-blogger campaign launched in Russia before presidential elections

Savva Terentyev, a citizen of the town of Siktivkar, 22, is charged for the first Russian case of posting abusive comments in the popular online blog LiveJournal.com. Terentyev is accused for inciting racial and religious hatred and word abusing of law-enforcement authorities.

According to the spokesman of the Siktivkar Court, “thorough text expertise concluded Terentyev’s comment to incite hatred on base of religious, political or cultural differences, and also to abuse people publicly by means of mass media”.

In case proved guilty, Terentyev will be either charged the fine of 4 up to 12 thousand dollars or will have to pay off his 1 to 2-year minimum salary, or will be forced to obligatory work for 180 hours.

The accusation against the musician in based on the results of the expertise held in Komi Language and Literature University. They proved his comment in the LiveJournal to be immoral and abusive.

The case started a year ago, when Terentyev posted a comment in the blog of one of komi’s journalist. The comment was a rough offence to the police. In a few days Terentyev’s apartment was raided and system block with floppies was withdrawn.

Translated by Lena Ksandinova

Original here