A man in St. Petersburg has become the first person in Russia to be sentenced for wearing a T-shirt depicting the flag of the Islamic State militant group, the Fontanka.ru news website reported Tuesday.
The man, a 27-year-old Tajik, was detained at a market in the city's Frunzensky district where he worked as a chef at a local cafe, the report said.
A magistrate court last Friday sentenced him to five days in detention for the public display of symbols that are forbidden under federal law and he was released on Tuesday, the report said.
While behind bars, he reportedly used his teeth to remove the Arabic writing from the black T-shirt, Fontanka.ru reported.
The man was allowed to keep the piece of clothing because he had nothing else to wear except for a pair of jeans, the report added.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.