MOSCOW, November 25 (RIA Novosti) – A prosecutor’s office official in southern Russia behind the planned ban of several books, including works by celebrated author Vladimir Nabokov, from school libraries was dismissed from his job Monday.
Kurbangali Sharipov, who handled minors’ issues in the Stavropol regional prosecutor’s office, said last week that unspecified books by Nabokov, as well as by revered early-20th-century poet Sergei Yesenin and several foreign writers would be banned “because they contain erotica, mysticism, horrors and hooligan poems.”
The announcement sparked nationwide criticism and prompted an internal investigation by Stavropol prosecutors.
The probe revealed that Sharipov had violated at least two Prosecutor General’s Office directives. One concerns the interaction between prosecutors and mass media, while the other regulates procuracy supervision of laws on human rights and freedoms.
“By the order of the regional prosecutor on November 25, Sharipov was relieved of his duties and dismissed from the prosecutor’s office,” the regional prosecutor’s office said.
The Stavropol prosecutors earlier denied plans to blacklist books mentioned by Sharipov, while the regional governor’s office said it had instructed the regional education department to create guidelines on how to protect children from harmful information.
