MOSCOW, August 13 (RAPSI) - The Chernovsky District Court of Chita (Trans-Baikal Territory) has sentenced a local resident who joined the Right Sector, a Ukrainian organization banned in Russia, to 18 months in a penal colony, RIA Novosti reports on Thursday citing the court’s press service.

The convicted Russian national was a supporter of nationalist ideology and contacted members of the armed group operating in Ukraine wishing to take part in the armed conflict in the country.

It is reported that the Chita resident “received instructions on ways to join the said armed groups and, being a supporter of nationalist ideology, decided to join and was accepted to the Right Sector.”

The defendant pled guilty.

The Right Sector is a Ukrainian association of radical nationalist organizations. In January and February 2014, they clashed with police and seized administrative buildings in Kiev. Since April 2014, the Right Sector was involved in fighting the protest movement in eastern Ukraine.

In November 2014, Russia’s Supreme Court declared Right Sector an extremist group and banned its activity in Russia. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Right Sector leader Dmitry Yarosh for the alleged incitement of terrorism.

In January 2015, Right Sector was added to the Russian register of prohibited organizations.