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A Russian comedian has been sentenced to almost six years in prison after making a joke about a disabled person during a stand-up routine.

Artemy Ostanin, 29, was accused of “inciting hatred” after joking about a man without legs who bumped into him on a skateboard in the Moscow metro. During the routine, Ostanin referred to the skateboard as a “stump-mobile” and suggested the man may have lost his legs after stepping on a mine.

Authorities claimed the joke insulted a participant in the “Special Military Operation” – Russia’s term for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ostanin denied this, insisting he was mocking beggars rather than military veterans.

He later faced an additional charge of “insulting religious feelings” after police uncovered a previous joke about Jesus, according to The Moscow Times. Ostanin had been detained since his arrest in Belarus in March 2025 and was labelled a terrorist and extremist in June.

The Meshchansky District Court in Moscow sentenced him to five years and nine months in prison and fined him 300,000 rubles (£2,900).

Human rights group Memorial called the conviction unjust, stating: “Ostanin’s monologue may be considered unfunny or in poor taste, but there are no grounds for a criminal prosecution, still less for imprisonment.”

Ostanin has previously alleged he was beaten by Belarusian police, claims which were denied by authorities.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1354616423361357