Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the new agreement, and it took effect this Saturday. The measure makes it a crime to publicly compare the actions of the Soviet Union with Nazi Germany during the Second World War. This change signals a clear shift in how historical comparisons are treated in public discourse, with authorities emphasizing the need to avoid statements that could be viewed as extremist or damaging to national memory.
The rule sets penalties that can include fines of up to 5,000 rubles and up to 15 days in jail for individuals who publicly draw parallels between the USSR and Nazi Germany or similar Axis powers. For legal entities, including media outlets and organizations, the maximum penalty rises to 100,000 rubles. These provisions reflect broader efforts to regulate information and prevent public statements deemed to distort history or incite division.
Specifically, penalties for private citizens range from 1,000 to 2,000 rubles, with up to 15 days of detention, while corporate or organizational violators may face fines from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles, and in some cases penalties can escalate. Repeated or duplicate offenses could trigger even stiffer consequences, up to 100,000 rubles for organizations, potentially accompanied by a suspension of activities for up to 90 days. Such measures place a significant burden on public communication and raise questions about where free expression ends and state memory protection begins.
Judges, law enforcement officers, and the Roskomnadzor — the Federal Service for Telecommunications, Information Technology and Media Supervising Authority — will carry out initiating and overseeing enforcement proceedings, determining whether violations have occurred and applying the prescribed sanctions. The new framework broadens the roles of these bodies in monitoring public statements and guiding how historical topics are discussed in schools, media, and online platforms.