A 21-year-old man arrested in Russia for possessing Nazi paraphernalia and having tattoos associated with extremist organisations has told security forces that he is of Irish descent.

Demyan Murphy, which is not his birth name, was convicted of an offence relating to the public display of prohibited symbols before a district court in Yekaterinburg on Friday.

He was sentenced to 10 days of administrative arrest – a short-term judicial punishment involving custodial detention for non-felony offences.

The man had been charged with offences under Article 20.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences, which prohibits propaganda or public display of certain symbols, including Nazi insignias.

During questioning by security forces, he claimed to be of Irish descent, according to multiple reports published by Russian media outlets.

The court heard that Mr Murphy had displayed symbols of extremist organisations both on his body, in the form of tattoos, and in his apartment, where he had painted symbols on the wall.

Numerous items of Nazi paraphernalia were also found in the residence located in Russia’s fourth-largest city, along with a selection of weapons including knives and brass knuckles.

Local news outlet E1.RU published photographs purportedly of the man’s tattoos and apartment, which appeared to be covered in the graffiti that gave rise to the criminal prosecution.