5 Mar 2022 12:45

Law criminalizing fake info to apply to Russian National Guard, other participants in Ukraine operation - Khinshtein

MOSCOW. March 5 (Interfax) - The law criminalizing fake information about the Russian Armed Forces will also apply to the Russian National Guard and other entities involved in the special military operation in Ukraine, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Technologies Alexander Khinshtein said.

"Soon enough, we will try to prepare a new edition that will apply to both the Russian National Guard and other state military (and other) organizations participating in the operation," Khinshtein said on Telegram on Saturday.

"It is no longer a secret that Russian National Guard units are actively participating in the special military operation; they are providing public security in the freed territories, are protecting infrastructure and critical facilities, and are escorting humanitarian convoys," he said.

"There is no doubt that those who are protecting others must also be protected. At the same time, the National Guard forces are not a component of the Russian Armed Forces," Khinshtein said.

The bill criminalizing public dissemination of knowingly false information about Russian Armed Forces operations, which aim to protect the interests of Russia and its citizens, was signed into law by the Russian president on Friday.

The maximum penalty for such offenses is ten to 15 years in jail (in the case of severe consequences).

Courts may also order a fine of 700,000 to 1.5 million rubles, up to one year of community service, up to three years of correctional labor, or up to three years of imprisonment. There are also other penalties, including a fine of 3 million to 5 million rubles, depending on the circumstances of the offense.