MOSCOW (JTA) — A Russian man was sentenced to prison for posting anti-Semitic slogans on an Internet forum.
A court in Penza sentenced a 42-year-old shut-in to one-and-a-half years in prison for posting anti-Semitic tirades to a local Internet forum, according to the Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda.
Mikhail Zinkin, an unemployed and disabled resident of the town some 400 miles southeast of Moscow, posted fascist symbols and tirades against Jewish political leaders and oligarchs.
He pleaded not guilty to charges of incitement of hatred or hostility, but was nevertheless convicted this week to the prison sentence.
"I was looking for contact with people and organizations that called themselves ‘Russian patriots.’ My speech against Jewish people was only against the thieves, criminals and oligarchs," Zinkin said, reported by Komosomolskaya Pravda.
Authorities confiscated his computer, and Zinkin made a pledge to be more politically correct in his statements.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
