MOSCOW, January 28 (RAPSI) – A court in Russia’s Republic Khakassia has passed a 2-year suspended sentence on a regional official Sergey Zaitsev, who had allegedly committed an assault upon a Russia TV channel camera crew member, the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office reports.

Additionally, the court has recovered 50,000 rubles ($800) from the defendant in favor of the journalist.

Zaitsev has been found guilty of obstruction of legal professional activity of journalists committed with the use of job position and force.

According to investigators, on May 22, 2019, the TV camera crew entered the administration’s building to record an interview with the municipal settlement’s head. The official, sitting in his cabinet and displeased with the journalists’ actions, allegedly pushed and floored one of the film crew members therefore scratching him.

During the investigation, Zaitsev pleaded not guilty and withdrew testimony.