Bill penalizing attempts to equate USSR with Nazi Germany by fine, 15-day arrest submitted to Duma

MOSCOW. Oct 27 (Interfax) - A bill that penalizes attempts to equate the Soviet Union with Nazi Germany by a fine of 1,000 to 100,000 rubles or a 15-day arrest has been submitted to the State Duma.

"Consistent with the proposed Part 1 Article 13.47 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses, there will be an administrative fine of 1,000 to 2,000 rubles or an administrative arrest of up to 15 days for citizens, a fine of 1,000 to 4,000 rubles for officials, and a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 rubles for legal entities," an explanatory note to the bill, published in the State Duma database on Wednesday, said.

The note said that a legislative ban on equating the goals, decisions and actions of the Soviet administration with the decisions and actions of the leadership of Nazi Germany in public speeches, publicly demonstrated productions or in mass media, including the Internet, had been imposed earlier.

A repeat offense will be penalized with a fine of 2,500 to 5,000 rubles or an administrative arrest of up to 15 days for citizens, a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 rubles or disqualification for six to 12 months for officials, and a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 rubles or administrative suspension of activity for up to 90 days for legal entities.

State Duma Deputy Speaker Alexander Zhukov, State Duma Culture Committee Chairperson Yelena Yampolskaya, and Federation Council members Alexei Pushkov and Olga Kovitidi submitted the bill to the State Duma.