A 17-year-old boy in Tajikistan capital Dushanbe has been sentenced to jail for 10 years for killing a man dressed as 'Father Frost', the Russian equivalent of Santa Claus.
A court in Dushanbe on Thursday handed down the sentence to Behruz Shrifov, who was found guilty of the killing.
He stabbed to death in January 24-year-old Parviz Davlatbekov, dressed as Father Frost, in an attack motivated by religious hatred, a court spokesman said.
The victim was attacked as he visited relatives. Father Frost by tradition brings Russian children presents at New Year. Russian cultural influence remains strong in Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic.
Two accomplices of the accused were found guilty of hooliganism and received four-year sentences.