Russian Comedian Accused of Making a Joke About Veterans Gets Prison Time

A Russian comedian was sentenced in Moscow on Wednesday to nearly six years in prison for joking about a man who had lost his legs after stepping on a mine, with the authorities saying he had mocked veterans.

The comedian, Artemy Ostanin, was convicted of "inciting hatred" by making the joke during a stand-up performance in March, according to the Russian Investigative Committee, a government investigative agency. A clip of the performance was widely disseminated by military bloggers and nationalist groups, who called it insulting to soldiers. Mr. Ostanin was arrested days later in Belarus after fleeing Russia.