MOSCOW, December 14 - RAPSI. Investigators have initiated a criminal case against a Smolensk City Council deputy suspected of humiliating former Nazi concentration camp prisoners, the Investigative Committee reported on Friday.

While discussing compensation for former underaged Nazi concentration camp prisoners in October, lawmaker Andrei Ershov allegedly said: "What do we owe these prisoners? Do we owe them because we didn't finish them off?" The statement incited a public uproar on the Internet.

At a meeting of the Smolensk City Council's Standing Budget Commission in the city administration, Ershov publicly made statements that were of a humiliating nature for former underaged Nazi concentration camp prisoners, the investigators have reported.

A criminal case has been initiated. Ershov faces up to two years in prison.

RIA Novosti has yet to obtain comments from the deputy.