A court in Kyrgyzstan has fined an ethnic Russian journalist $1,100 for writing articles it deemed to be incitements to ethnic hatred.
The Bishkek court ruled Tuesday that Vladimir Farafonov had insulted the Kyrgyz people, but decided against the eight-year sentence called for by prosecutors. Farafanov declined to attend the hearing due to concerns over his safety.
Ethnic tensions have been notably high in the nation since major clashes in the south between Kyrgyz and minority Uzbek communities left hundreds dead.
Nationalist politicians have earned support by calling for the stronger assertion of traditional Kyrgyz values.
(AP)
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