Aircraft crash in Sochi triggers disputes about sanctions for comments on victims

After the crash in Sochi of the Tu-154 aircraft of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), a number of popular users of social networks have posted their critical comments on the victims, condemning Russia's actions in Syria. Among such authors are the journalist Bozhena Rynska and her colleague Arkady Babchenko, a veteran of two Chechen wars. Outraged readers demand criminal prosecution for such comments.

Arkady Babchenko wrote on the Facebook that he has no condolences to casualties' families of the victims. Speaking about the performers, who were flying in Syria, he wrote that they had to "sing and dance in front of the pilots to raise their morale for better bombing."

Bozhena Rynska on her Facebook spoke even more sharply about the perished NTV journalists. Later, she cancelled her comment.

Vitaly Milonov, a State Duma MP, has called on to deprive Babchenko and Rynska of Russian citizenship for their extremely incorrect statements about the crash of the Tu-154 and the casualties, the "Izvestia" report.

Mr Milonov has also announced plans to draft a bill that would allow opening criminal cases against those, who publicly mock over the deceased.

The Russian General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) has already stated that they intend to give a legal assessment of Rynska's statements, said Alexander Kurennoj, the GPO's spokesman.

The journalist Masha Slonim has seen the danger of returning to Stalinist repressions in such debates. According to her version, Babchenko did not gloat over the victims, but just "spoke tactlessly."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.