Editor-in-chief of Russian Siberia newspaper charged with anti-semite publications

On Thursday editor-in-chief of the Russian Siberia newspaper Igor Kolodezenko was charged with anti-Semite publications in Novosibirsk.

The Novosibirsk central court founded Kolodzenko guilty of inciting national, racial and religious discord and sentenced him to three years of imprisonment.

However, the court released him from punishment and included him in the amnesty announced by the State Duma in honour of the 55th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Criminal proceedings against the editor-in-chief of the Russian Siberia newspaper, published in the Novosibirsk region since 1996, were initiated in 2000, prosecutor Yuri Kondratyev told journalists after the announcement of the sentence. According to him, "the publication of materials calling for violence against Jews" caused the criminal proceedings. The published articles contained words humiliating dignity of Jewish people, the prosecutor said.

According to Kondratyev, two weeks ago the Novosibirsk prosecutor's office claimed the regional court to eliminate the Russian Siberia newspaper, which contains materials inciting national intolerance and discord.