Playing Pokémon GO in Russia is not illegal as it is in other countries, but there are some strict laws put in place as to where citizens can or cannot play the game.
One of these laws allegedly states that it is illegal to play Pokémon GO in a church, and such a move could land players in prison. Naturally, not everyone believed they would actually be so severely punished for playing the game inside a church, and for this very reason, a Russian YouTube star decided to test the waters.
The YouTuber, known as Ruslan Sokolovsky, created a video where he talked about the new law and how ridiculous he finds it. His intentions were to prove to the public that no one could actually get arrested for playing Pokémon GO in a church.
"This is complete nonsense ... Who could get offended if you're just walking around with your smartphone in a church?" remarked Sokolovsky, as translated by the Moscow Times.
With his mind set, the young man entered the Church of All Saints and began playing the popular mobile game. The video was recorded and uploaded to YouTube, and soon after, Sokolovsky was arrested and has been in detainment for a month.
Regional police spokesperson Valery Gorelykh stated that he'd prefer to see Sokolovsky jailed for five years, at the least. His argument is that an example should be made of the YouTuber for committing a crime that fits his views of blasphemy.
Recently, a spokesperson for the Orthodox Church, Vladimir Legoyda, posted on Facebook, saying that what Sokolovsky has done is similar to the actions of Charlie Hebdo. It would seem as if the young man was attempting to challenge the authorities by playing Pokémon GO inside a church.
Only time will tell if he walks away unscathed. However, there is a flicker of hope for the Russian YouTuber. Jaroslav Nilov, head of the religious committee, said he doesn't believe using a smartphone inside a church should be viewed as an insult.
Still, since Sokolovsky was playing the Pokémon GO game, we're not certain if it applies.
This isn't the first time Sokolovsky has made the news. Earlier this year, he created a self-titled atheist magazine, claiming he was inspired by Charlie Hebdo, the French satire publication.
Things could turn out badly for the YouTuber if he's convicted. We do know he has filed an appeal, and we'll be keeping up with that once more information has been released.
With the Pokémon GO fever fading, in a few months' time, there may not be many Russians playing the game who care to do so in a church.
