Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed laws establishing liability for "discrediting" and "fake news" against volunteers and mercenaries participating in hostilities in Ukraine. It is reported by TASS.
Articles about “fake” and “discrediting” the Russian army appeared in Russian legislation after the start of the war, in March 2022. Amendments to Articles 207.3 (“fakes”) and 280.3 (“discrediting”) were made at the request of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of PMC Wagner. In January, he complained to State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin about journalists who “seek out unsightly information” about recruited prisoners and make them “villains and criminals,” denying them “the right to atone for guilt.”
Now the maximum term of imprisonment for spreading "fake" and "discrediting" committed without aggravating circumstances has been increased from three to five years.
Criminal cases for “discrediting” will be initiated against those who will first be brought to administrative responsibility within a year. Under the Criminal Code, this will be punishable by up to five years, and for “discrediting” with calls for protests or grave consequences – up to seven years (now – up to three and five, respectively).