A Russian stand-up comedian has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison for a joke about a legless war veteran, sparking outrage among nationalists and military bloggers. Artemy Ostanin received a term of five years and nine months and a fine of 300,000 roubles (£2,800) on Wednesday after being found guilty of inciting hatred.
The case is the latest in a series of harsh punishments for those deemed by authorities to have spoken rudely or falsely about the Russian army amid its conflict in Ukraine. Ostanin was also convicted of offending Christian sensibilities with another joke about Jesus, which angered Orthodox nationalists.
Ostanin's troubles began after a performance in March last year, where he joked about a war veteran who lost his legs to a mine and now uses a skateboard to get around. The joke, delivered to a small audience, went viral after being shared on Telegram by war bloggers and nationalists, who accused him of mocking soldiers risking their lives.
The nationalist group Sorok Sorokov called for tighter state control over comedy performances, citing a decline in moral values. Fearing backlash, Ostanin attempted to flee Russia but was arrested in Belarus and returned to Moscow to face charges. During his trial, he argued that his arrest and treatment were punishment enough.
Russia enacted sweeping censorship laws in 2022 after launching its war in Ukraine. Pro-Kremlin figures have since publicly denounced those they believe have broken these laws and reported them to authorities. When asked by the judge if he understood his sentence, Ostanin replied: 'To hell with your judicial practice. No, I don't.'
