Vologda regional newspaper "Nash Region" ("Our Region") closed because of the caricature scandal in February, 2006 has successfully passed the registration procedure, according to former chief editor of the newspaper Anna Smirnova.
On February, 15 2006 the newspaper "Our Region" published an article "Caricature war: opinions", where several Danish caricatures were reprinted, the initial publication of which in Western press caused violent protest of the Muslims of the whole world. Several days later, the Public Prosecutor of Vologda region brought action grounding on Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("instigating national, racial or religious hatred using one's official position"). On February, 20 the owner of the newspaper Mikhail Smirnov terminated its existence.
In March the city court of Vologda found Smirnova guilty and sentenced her to a fine of 100 thousand roubles. The lawyers of the journalist filed a cassation to the court above. Vologda regional court indemnified Smirnova, though she is still considered to be guilty of stirring up religious hatred.
In early February 2006 Vologda and Volgograd newspapers published caricatures on religious topics. The pictures appeared at the height of the "caricature scandal" aroused by the publications in a Danish newspaper of a satirical comics concerning Prophet Mohammed. In spite of the fact that only the Vologda newspaper "Nash region" reprinted the Danish pictures, the publication of which caused mass protestations all over the world and Volgograd newspaper "Gorodskije Novosti" ("City News") posted a caricature of its own cartoonist, both newspapers were suspended. Altai information agency "Bankfax" did not publish any religious caricatures, though in March the Department of Rosohrankultura of the Russian Federation in Siberian Federal District brought an action in the court of Barnaul demanding to close both media. A comment at the forum of the Internet-edition, where a reader was deliberating on the double standards of officials, provoked the anger of the authorities. Besides, a warning was awarded to the internet-site "Gazeta.ru". The actions of Russian officials received extensive feedback from all over the country.
