The bill affects the creation of false information and its spread. What went wrong was determined by Russia.
Spread is punishable by a heavy fine from seven hundred thousand rubles to one and a half million rubles (about 160,000 to 343,000 crowns, but the exchange rate fluctuates sharply) or a sentence of up to three years.
“It means that as early as possible the standards (of this law) will compel to punish – with great severity – those who lie and make statements that discredit our armed forces. We want everyone to understand that we are doing this to protect our soldiers and officers,” said the Chief Duma Vyacheslav Volodin. He added that if it were not for the “special military operation” ordered by President Putin against Ukraine, “war would have broken out.”
The penalty for fabricating false information about soldiers, using a service position alone, or for making such messages in groups, is five to ten years. If this false information had serious repercussions, he faced ten to fifteen years in prison.
The cruel punishment would de facto prevent the media from publishing any information about the military and the fighting other than what was approved. Investigative journalism regarding the military is de facto prohibited. However, severe penalties will also be meted out in the case of news taken from abroad, as Russia can brand it as fake news.
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