Prague - Court in Havlíčkův Brod issued Thursday a verdict for publishers of an online journal promoting neo-Nazism.

Erik Sedláček and Libor Budík were sentenced to two years in prison.

Holocaust denial

Interestingly, Sedláček is running in upcoming regional elections in Vysočina Region for the Dělnická strana (Workers' Party). He appealed to the higher instance.

"Freedom of free speech is guaranteed in this country but it cannot be in discordance with law and constitution of the country," Žďárský deník (Žďár Daily) quoted judge Hana Doubková.

Both the judges and experts saw the online journal Poslední generace (Last Generation) as promoting racism, anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.

Erik Sedláček has already spent a few months in custody because of the journal. Although he published his articles under a pseudonym, the experts proved his authorship.

"Dangerous behavior"

Regional public prosecutor Zdeněk Štěpánek declared he is satisfied with the ruling.

"Promoting nazism is dangerous as such and double so when online. The sentences are correct, although the accused have never been prosecuted before," Štěpánek was quoted by České noviny.

In August, the Supreme Court issued probation sentences for authors of a different neo-Nazi website.

Investigating such cases is increasingly more difficult for police, since the extremists often use US web providers for hosting their sites.