new law
State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin announced at the plenary meeting that the moment when the truth comes out has arrived. He argued that deputies should acknowledge volunteers who will join the Russian military special operations zone in the near future, as well as soldiers and officers already in the trenches. [State Duma website]
Volodin stated that every soldier and officer today, whether in the armed forces or among volunteers, must understand that lies and slander against him will be punished and protected by law. [State Duma website]
He recalled that in the late 1980s and early 1990s the authorities failed to shield the military, noting that uniformed officers tended to avoid public places. He holds officials who did not consider the soldiers defending the country responsible for this. [State Duma website]
Under the new law, which was adopted in the third and final reading, changes are made to the Russian penal code. The changes address public discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces and protections for voluntary formations. [State Duma website]
Russia now holds responsibility for delib erately spreading false information about the use of the Armed Forces and for discrediting them. Penalties range from three to five years, with the maximum for repeated discrediting that leads to dangerous consequences rising from five to seven years. [State Duma website]
The maximum sentence can reach 15 years in prison, with fines up to 5 million rubles. [State Duma website]
Liability for discrediting voluntary formations or organizations will be added to the article of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses, covering actions aimed at discrediting the use of the RF Armed Forces and those serving for the troops. The relevant provision is article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Offenses Code. [State Duma website]
The press service of the lower house said that fines under this article amount to 50,000 rubles for citizens and up to 500,000 rubles for legal entities. [State Duma website]
The report notes that criminal sanctions will apply if the offender receives administrative responsibility for similar acts within a year. After voting on this initiative, Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel that those who risk their lives to protect the country and its citizens are now safeguarded against provocations and lies. [State Duma website]
He added that such actions are unacceptable. For those who act with wicked intent, punishment can reach up to 15 years in prison. He expressed gratitude for the support and feedback from colleagues. [State Duma website]
Changes protecting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
In early March 2022, the State Duma Committee on State Construction and Legislation recommended adopting amendments to hold accountable those who discredit participants in the military operation in Ukraine. [State Duma website]
On March 4, President Vladimir Putin signed a federal law introducing anti-Russia sanctions and imposing large fines along with criminal penalties for false information about the military. [State Duma website]
The law imposes fines for deliberately disseminating false information about the Russian Armed Forces ranging from 700,000 to 1.5 million rubles, or the income of the convicted person for up to 18 months. It also provides for up to 18 months of corrective labor, up to three years of forced labor, and imprisonment for a similar period. [State Duma website]
Additionally, for counterfeit products with serious consequences, offenders face prison terms from ten to 15 years. [State Duma website]
If the crime is committed with selfish motives by someone in an official position, penalties may include an administrative fine of three to five million rubles or the income of the convicted person for three to five years, up to five years of forced labor, or imprisonment from five to ten years along with disqualification from certain roles for up to five years. [State Duma website]
There is also a potential penalty of up to three years in prison for calls to prevent the use of Russian troops to protect national interests when the offender has prior administrative charges within the year. Calls for sanctions against Russia can carry the same prison sentence. [State Duma website]
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