Russian blogger detained for playing 'Pokemon Go' in church has made an appeal (Photo : Getty Images/ Vasily Maximov)
A 22-year-old blogger jailed after post a video of himself while playing "Pokemon Go" in a church in the city of Yekaterinburg has filed an appeal, according to the local court.
Russian news agencies on Monday quoted a local court in the city of Yekaterinburg saying to have received an appeal from Ruslan Sokolovsky who was ordered last week to stay behind bars at least until November pending trial for playing "Pokemon Go".
Ruslan Sokolovsky, a video blogger who focused on atheism and current trends is reportedly being held in prison while he awaits trial. He was arrested for what is said, "Inciting religious hatred," a similar offence that led two women from the punk collective Pussy Riot to prison back in 2012.
Sokolovsky posted the "Pokemon Go" video on his blog showing him playing the wildly popular game in the church built on the supposed spot where Tsar Nicholas II and his family were killed, ABC News reported.
It is reportedly that in July, Russian state media warned gamers of "Pokemon Go" that playing the popular app in churches or near any sensitive area could result in arrests or even three years of jail time, the 22-year-old, Sokolovsky decided to protest the ban in churches.
Nadya Tolokonnikova, a singer in the Russian punk band, the Pussy Riot supported Mr Sokolovsky in a tweet. In 2012, together with another member of the band, they were sent to prison for almost two years for hooliganism and religious hatred after performing in a church, BBC News reported.
Church officials and investigators have said the arrest was because Mr Sokolovsky was filming, and not for catching Pokemon.
According to the Moscow Times, Mr Sokolovsky responded to his detention with: "This is complete nonsense. Who the hell can get offended from walking with a smartphone inside church?"
Opposition leaders have been swift to criticize the local court in Yekaterinburg for forcing someone charged with a non-violent issue stay behind bars until his trial in November. They said that meant, that the court is also depriving his severely handicapped mother of her caretaker.
Russian authorities have also spoken about the issue. Jaroslav Nilov, the head of the State Duma's religious affairs committee, told Russian media that he did not think the blogger had broken the country's anti-blasphemy laws.
In addition, the Russian Orthodox Church has said that while they accept that the young man had conducted himself badly, he should be released if he agrees to delete the "Pokemon Go" video.
Here is a video of the Russian You tuber arrest:
