 Source: HRO.org Tatyana Merzlyakova, Human Rights Ombudsperson for Sverdlovsk region, has said in a statement published on 1 November 2016 on the website of the regional Ombudsperson, that the actions of the video blogger Ruslan Sokolovsky, who played Pokemon Go in one of the churches in Ekaterinburg, 'in no way contain either deeds or intentions that can be considered insulting to the feelings of believers.' Kasparov.ru quotes Ombudsperson Merzlaykova as saying that she is convinced Sokolovsky 'was guided by an exclusively commercial interest' and he did not connect his video blog 'with any religious preferences whatever.' In her opinion, in criminally prosecuting Ruslan Sokolovsky and remanding him in custody the law enforcement agencies have ensured the video blogger has gained 'completely unmerited attention' and also are helping to create 'false heroes.' The regional Ombudsperson points out that the criminal prosecution of Sokolovsky could be grounds for an application to the European Court of Human Rights. The day before, the lawyer acting for the blogger Ruslan Sokolovsky, who played Pokemon Go in a church, lodged an appeal against the decision to remand his client in custody. Sokolovsky was again remanded in custody. The court had remanded Sokolovsky in custody in place of house arrest on the demand of the investigator. The blogger was considered to have violated the conditions of his house arrest. |
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