On Wednesday, the 31st of January, the Russian State Duma unanimously passed in the second and third readings a legislative draft that provides for confiscation of property of people who are found guilty of spreading “fake news” about the Russian army.
Now the law needs to be approved in the Upper Chamber of the parliament and then signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The new law will allow law enforcers confiscate money, valuables and other property, as well as revoke honorary titles and awards.
At least half of guilty verdicts in cases viewed by Russian courts regarding “fake news” about the army concerned cases when Russian citizens spoke about Russian troops killing Ukrainian civilians.
Moscow made it illegal to criticise the army shortly after the start of the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then Russian authorities have detained thousands of anti-war activists.
According to estimates from Russian human rights website OVD-Info, Russian law enforcement authorities have initiated criminal cases for anti-war sentiment against at least 830 people, at least 250 of them are about “fake news” about the Russian army.
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Russian State Duma passes law on confiscation of property of those who criticise army
