Roman Romanenko, a journalist, publisher, and charity activist in Russia's northwestern Vologda region, had long suspected authorities of lacking a sense of humor. But he's still in disbelief at the backlash sparked by a joke he pulled in March when he called on the Kremlin to send troops to liberate Russian-speakers from corrupt officials in his region. It was a not-so-subtle reference to President Vladimir Putin's decision to deploy troops to Crimea, which Russia has since annexed from Ukraine.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Pressure mounts on Russian journalist over Crimea prank
Roman Romanenko, a journalist, publisher, and charity activist, who jokingly asked for troops to be dispatched to the Vologda region in his letter to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, had two interrogations by prosecutors, who are mulling pressing extremism charges against him.
