Russian man faces 5 years in jail for playing Pokemon Go in church

Currently under house arrest

I would like to point your browser towards two links first by way of remembrance. Pokemon Go is still chugging as the ‘fastest game ever’ to hit $500 million in revenue, to remind you that there are still a lot of people playing Pokemon Go. And From Auschwitz to Arizona: Humble requests that you stop playing Pokemon Go, to remind you that there are still places that would prefer you not play Pokemon Go.

Popular Russian blogger Ruslan Sokolovsky made a video of himself playing Pokemon Go in a church in Russia, expressing his right to game.

In the video, Sokolovsky says, via Moscow Times translation, “This is complete nonsense … Who could get offended if you’re just walking around with your smart phone in a church?” presumably before muttering, “what are they gonna do, arrest me?” off-air.

Indeed the blogger was arrested under the same law that jailed protest band Pussy Riot: Article 282 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code prohibits “incitement of hatred or enmity, as well as abasement of human dignity.” He’s also charged with, “public actions expressing clear disrespect to society with the aim to insult religious feelings of believers committed in places for religious worship” (Article 148.2) and could face five years in prison if convicted.

He was moved from police custody to house arrest at his lawyer’s flat, due to his lack of a permanent address in the city. Sokolovsky, “isn’t allowed to leave the house, use his phone or the internet. He’s banned from communicating with anyone except the people investigating him, and his lawyer,” according to Amnesty International.

Russia: Free YouTuber facing prison for playing Pokémon Go [Amnesty International]