Russia jails Instagram model, boyfriend for 10 months over Red Square ‘obscene’ picture
- Ruslani Murodzhonzoda and Anastasia Chistova were found guilty of hurting religious feelings after he posted an image of them imitating oral sex near Red Square
- It was the latest crackdown on minor transgressions in Russia, where Putin has pushed an increasingly conservative agenda
A Russian court on Friday sentenced a social media prankster and his girlfriend to 10 months in prison after he posted a picture on Instagram imitating oral sex near Red Square.
Moscow’s Tverskoi district court said on Friday that Ruslani Murodzhonzoda – a Tajik national – and Anastasia Chistova were found guilty of offending the feelings of religious people.
“Anastasia Chistova and Ruslani Murodzhonzoda committed public actions expressing clear disrespect for society,” the court said in a statement.
Murodzhonzoda posts mostly pranks on his social media, while Chistova is described by media as an Instagram model.
They were detained in late September after he posted a picture showing Chistova kneeling in front of him near Saint Basil’s Cathedral on Red Square.