The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) welcomes the court's decision to…
The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) welcomes the court's decision to release Ksenia Belousova, who was sentenced for preparing a hookah on Easter bread. ROC had requested that the court consider her repentance when sentencing Ksenia Belousova,
Consensus
- Ksenia Belousova made a hookah from a paschal kulich and published it online in April.
- She was initially sentenced to three years and 25 days in prison for offending religious feelings.
- The Moscow City Court reduced her sentence to 200 hours of compulsory work on July 3.
- Belousova had previously been conditionally convicted for drug possession in 2025.
- The church appealed for leniency, citing her repentance.
Points of divergence
- The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) actively lobbied the court to reduce Belousova's sentence and she wrote a penitent letter to the ROC. — fontanka
- Belousova was released from custody in the courtroom on July 3, after her sentence was changed. — vesti
- The court excluded the revocation of her conditional sentence for drug possession and maintained that she must serve it independently. — kommersant
Coverage (6 sources)
- Russian Orthodox Church Reacts to Release of Girl Who Smoked Hookah on Easter Bun — Фонтанка
- Russian Orthodox Church supports decision to release Moscow woman who baked a cigarette pipe cake — Коммерсантъ
- Court releases woman sentenced to three years for smoking hookah on a kulich — Фонтанка
- Moscow woman sentenced to lighter punishment for smoking hookah on a bun — Вести
- Moscow woman sentenced to prison for 'kalyan on a kolyche' released — Коммерсантъ
- Girl who made a hookah on a bun released from custody — Вечерняя Москва
Key entities
- RPC
- Ksenia Belousova
- Moscow
- Belousov
- Media
- Moscow City Court
- Moscow City Court
- Presidium
- Vakhtang Kipshidze
- Max
- RIA Novosti
- Podyom
- Lefortovsky District Court
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