State Duma deputies want to introduce punishment for the distribution and demonstration of maps and images that "dispute the territorial integrity of Russia" and equate it with extremism. According to TASS with reference to the press service of the Duma Security Committee, the relevant bills have already been submitted for consideration.
The first draft law amends the law "On counteracting extremist activity." "In accordance with the amendments, extremist materials will also include cartographic and other documents and images intended for distribution and public demonstration that dispute the territorial integrity of Russia," the report says.
Another bill provides for changes in the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. “For the distribution of such cards and other similar products, citizens will face a fine or arrest for up to 15 days, for legal entities the fine can reach 1 million rubles. It is also proposed to expand the scope of this article of the Code of Administrative Offenses to cases of distribution of extremist materials that are not included in the federal list of extremist materials, but are recognized as extremist in accordance with the current legislation.
“Recently, we see that maps and other images are being actively distributed, where the territorial affiliation of Crimea, the Kuril Islands, and other territories of our country is disputed. It is especially dangerous when such materials are designed for a children's audience, as was the case with children's photo wallpapers sold in one of the popular retail chains, where Crimea was designated as part of Ukraine. Obviously, this is part of a hybrid war unleashed by the West against Russia. And the distribution of such materials that violate Russian law must be stopped,” said Vasily Piskarev, the initiator of the project, chairman of the Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, to TASS.