A case has been opened against a resident of Tula who attended a religious procession wearing a “Satan mask,” for offending the feelings of believers.

The Investigative Committee has opened a case against a 34-year-old resident of Tula for offending the feelings of believers in places designated for worship, religious rites and ceremonies (Part 2, Article 148 of the Criminal Code), according to the agency’s website.

The case was opened over events on 11 April near a church in the village of Mikhaylovskoye, Kurkinsky District, a rural area near Tula, a city south of Moscow. However, the Investigative Committee release does not specify what exactly the man did.

Earlier, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the man attended a religious procession wearing “a mask depicting the face of a demonic being.” During the procession, he shouted religious greetings, which, according to the Ministry, disrupted the event.

“The man’s inappropriate behaviour provoked a strong negative reaction from parishioners and clergy, and they reported it to the police,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs press release said.

Police then issued the Tula resident a protocol for petty hooliganism (Part 1, Article 20.1 of the Administrative Offenses Code), for which he was detained for three days. In addition, the Ministry published a video in which the man apologises.

“During the procession, I walked in a Satan mask shouting ‘Christ is Risen,’ for which I would like to apologise first and foremost to the priest of this church, the clergy, the parishioners, and also to all Orthodox Christians. I admit my guilt, I deeply repent my actions and I strongly advise no one to repeat such behaviour,” the detainee said on camera.