A 22-year-old blogger could end up in prison for up to five years for playing Pokemon Go in Church!
Niantic's Pokemon Go has sparked all sorts of reactions around the world. While the reactions have been mostly positive, some countries have taken the game very seriously. First it was the UAE, which warned its citizens not to play Pokemon Go, and then some of the Middle Eastern countries followed suit. But no one expected what happened in Russia.
A 22-year-old Russian blogger could face up to five years in prison after being accused of offending "religious sensitivities" by playing Pokemon Go inside a church.
Ruslan Sokolovsky is a political blogger who regularly posts his opinions on his YouTube channel. Sokolovsky also happens to be a big fan of Pokemon Go and did something that angered the Russian authorities against him.
On August 11, he filmed himself playing Pokémon Go in a cathedral in Yekaterinburg. The video prompted police to search his home for evidence of “incitement to hatred and an attack on freedom of religion,” authorities claimed.
He was finally arrested last Friday and could face up to five years in prison if convicted. His arrest has sparked outrage in Russia, but Pokemon Go is also banned in churches, polling stations and private property, according to local media reports.
When arrested, Sokolovsky allegedly asked: "How can someone offend by entering a church with a smartphone?"
