The Russian Criminal Code previously provided for criminal liability for “public actions aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces”, and this penalty now extends to all forces.
Russian President Vladimir Putin promulgated a law this Saturday that expands and aggravates the criminalization of the dissemination of insults and slander against the Russian forces involved in the invasion of Ukraine, including volunteers, reports Europa Press.
The Russian Criminal Code previously provided criminal liability for “public actions aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces,” and this criminalization now extends to all forces involved, including volunteers, partner organizations, and individuals who facilitate and assist in their job.
Additionally, the new law increases the maximum penalty for this offense from five to seven years in prison and imposes an additional maximum penalty of 15 years for spreading false news about volunteers.
Another novelty in the legislation is the introduction of the so-called civil and administrative liability, which adds fines of about six thousand euros for slandering these volunteers, according to the Russian news agency TASS.
Source: Observadora
