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World News

Russian faces jail for playing Pokemon Go in church

by Aaron James

Ruslan Sokolovsky, 22, has been charged with inciting hatred, after playing the smartphone game in the Church of All Saints in Yekaterinburg.

His video (below) came after a Russian programme said it would be illegal for someone to play the game in a church.

In response, Mr Sokolovsky said: "This is nonsense. Who can be offended by someone walking around a church with a smartphone?"

According to The Times, police spokesman Valery Gorelykh said Mr Sokolovsky was committing blasphemy and should be jailed for five years, while Vladimir Legoyda, a spokesman from the Russian Orthodox Church, said his actions were "intentionally provocative".

Yevgeny Roizman, the Mayor of Yekaterinburg, labelled his arrest "a disgrace".

Reports also suggest the priest at the Church of All Saints has offered to pay for Mr Sokolovsky's bail.

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