Discreditation of Russian Armed Forces may be penalized with up to 5 years in jail - legislative amendments

MOSCOW. March 3 (Interfax) - The State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation approved amendments to the Russian Criminal Code on Thursday to introduce criminal penalty for discreditation of Russian troops and calls for anti-Russian sanctions.

The table of amendments recommended for approval by the committee is now available to Interfax. It is planned to hold the second hearing of the bill on Friday, March 4.

According to the document, the Russian Criminal Code is augmented with Article 280.3 "Public actions aimed at discrediting operations of the Russian Armed Forces aimed to protect the interests of Russia and its citizens and to ensure world peace and security." Penalties will range from a fine (100,000 to 300,000 rubles) to five years of imprisonment. The maximum penalty will apply to those whose public actions against Russian troops do harm to human lives and health, damage property, cause mass unrest and disturb operation of civilian infrastructure, including communication systems and transport.

It is also planned to augment the Russian Criminal Code with Article 284.2 "Calls for restrictive measures against Russia, Russian citizens or Russian legal entities." Calls on foreign states or international organizations for imposing sanctions on Russian citizens will be penalized by a fine of up to 500,000 rubles, up to three years of forced labor, up to six months of arrest, or up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of up to 200,000 rubles.

Criminal penalty envisaged by Articles 280.3 and 284.2 of the Criminal Code will apply only after a person is held administratively liable on the same counts, the amendments said.

The table of amendments also contains a new article of the Russian Criminal Code, Article 207.3 on public dissemination of knowingly false information about operations of the Russian Armed Forces, which has been announced by State Duma deputies. This offense will be punishable with ten to 15 years in jail (in case of severe consequences).