A Russian journalist has been accused of 'controlling minds' and 'affecting the human subconscious' after referencing George Orwell's 1984 in an article.

Mikhail Romanov, a reporter for the Yakutsk Vecherniy weekly, was writing a story on the alleged torture of an academic.

Police in Russia's republic of Sakha charged Romanov after they suspected him of trying to tap into the readers' sub-conscience, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported.

Mikhail Romanov, a reporter for the Yakutsk Vecherniy weekly, was writing a story on the alleged torture of an academic (stock)

A Russian journalist has been accused of 'controlling minds' and 'affecting the human subconscious' after referencing George Orwell's 1984 (pictured) in an article

Romanov's editor told the publication: 'This is a story about how anyone can be squashed by the government machine.

'It's also about how Big Brother is watching, reading all comments on online forums.'

This is understood to be the first time a journalist will be tried under Russia's new legislation punishing those who are perceived to have published information 'containing hidden insertions affecting the human subconscious. '

The case has been forwarded to a Yakutsk city court.

If found to be in violation of the law, Romanov could have to pay a fine ranging between 2,000 rubles (£25) and 50,000 rubles (£785).

The Russian Union of Journalists argued in favour of the journalist, saying in a statement: 'Even someone without a literary education understands that this was only in reference to George Orwell's "1984".'