Trial in Russia sends message to bloggers

[flashl]

Savva Terentyev was blowing off some steam about the local police; now he's a pawn in the nation's Internet crackdown.

SYKTYVKAR, Russia — Savva Terentyev doesn't hide his disdain for police. The anger threading through a rant he posted on a friend's blog made that clear. Bad cops, the young Russian songwriter wrote, should be taken to this city's downtown plaza and burned alive.

Terentyev meant his remarks for a small circle of friends who vent on each other's blogs. He had no idea local police were watching.

The blog on which Terentyev posted his message was run by Boris Suranov, a Syktyvkar journalist whose newspaper had irked local authorities. Police were regularly checking entries on the blog when they came across Terentyev's posting.

Terentyev, who will go on trial Monday on charges of inciting hatred and who faces up to two years in prison, says he never dreamed his Web comments could constitute a crime.

Chicago Tribune