Russian reporter gets 5 years for Chechnya stories

MOSCOW, Nov 21 (Reuters) A Russian court sentenced a journalist to five years in prison for inciting religious hatred and calling for extremist actions in the separatist region of Chechnya.

Boris Stomakhin, editor of outspoken monthly newspaper Radikalnaya Politika, had frequently called Russia'a presence in Chechnya an ''occupation'' and slammed President Vladimir Putin. He also wrote articles for Chechen rebel Web site Kavkaz Centre.

Stomakhin had pleaded not guilty.

''His actions were directed at destroying the Russian people as a nation,'' the state prosecutor said.

''When writing about events in Russia linked with the military activity in the Chechen Republic and also about terrorist acts (in Russia), Stomakhin approved of the criminals and terrorists,'' he said.

Chechen rebels have been fighting for independence for more than a decade, and the conflict has spilled over into other parts of Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus region.

REUTERS DKS PM0440