The Vologda Regional Court dropped charges under Article 282 against the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Our Region"

On May 25, 2006, the Vologda Regional Court overturned the verdict against Anna Smirnova, editor-in-chief of the Nash Region newspaper, which reprinted cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

The court considered A. Smirnova's cassation appeal and canceled the decision of the city court, according to which the editor-in-chief was found guilty under paragraph "b" of part 2 of Art. 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (incitement of national, racial or religious hatred using one's official position).

As A. Smirnova herself said, she did not expect that the decision would be made in her favor. "However, the regional court proved its professionalism and impartiality by accepting for consideration all the defense materials that had previously been rejected by the city court ," the journalist noted.

On September 27, 2006, the newspaper "Nash Region" received a new registration certificate and resumed its work.

Sources

• The Vologda Regional Court dropped all charges against the editor-in-chief of a newspaper involved in a cartoon scandal // Interfax-religion. 2006. May 25.
• Newspaper shut down over cartoon scandal returns // IA "Rosbalt". 2006. September 27.