The Federation Council at a meeting on March 4 approved amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on punishment for spreading false information about the actions of the Russian military, discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and for calls for anti-Russian sanctions.
"We see that today the West has launched a real information war against our country, a war unprecedented in scale, in the degree of aggressiveness, in the concentration of hatred. Moreover, a war in which every attack was pre-designed, prepared and technically secured. Facebook Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, which are under the control of Washington, can only be described as carpet information bombing of our society," said the Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, speaking about the need for the law.
According to her assessment, on Russia, its citizens, on the servicemen of the Russian army, "streams of monstrous lies are pouring out non-stop."
"In fact, there is a war on such mental moral and cultural destruction of our Motherland," the speaker continued. - It's no secret that there are people inside the country who are able to consciously or unconsciously participate in such information warfare, but already on their own territory. It is clear that it was their support within Russian society that was counted on overseas."
According to Matvienko, the organizers miscalculated, and it was not possible to split society and sow panic.
"I watch the Internet and social networks every day and see a dynamic picture. She has changed very seriously in a week. I see more and more speeches and comments every day, the leitmotif of which is the same: "I am not ashamed that I am Russian, I am proud of Russia, our cause is just," although I am convinced that it is also impossible to underestimate the demoralizing influence of hostile propaganda. Not to mention the fact that we are simply obliged to protect the honor of our soldiers who heroically fight against neo-Nazis, and the honor of their homeland," the politician stressed.
The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation introduces a new article 207.3 on the public dissemination of deliberately false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in order to protect the interests of Russia and its citizens. The maximum penalty under this article is established in the form of imprisonment for a period of 10 to 15 years (in case of serious consequences). The court will be able to impose a fine of 700 thousand to 1.5 million rubles, correctional labor for up to a year, forced labor for up to three years or imprisonment for the same period. Other sanctions under this article provide for a fine of 3 to 5 million rubles.
Also, Article 280.3 appears in the Code "Public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in order to protect the interests of the Russian Federation and its citizens, maintain international peace and security" with a maximum penalty of imprisonment of up to 5 years.
In addition, Article 284.2 "Calls for the introduction of restrictive measures against the Russian Federation, citizens of the Russian Federation or Russian legal entities" is introduced. For this, it is proposed to punish with a fine of up to 500 thousand rubles, forced labor for up to three years, arrest for up to six months or imprisonment for up to three years with a simultaneous fine of up to 200 thousand rubles.
Victoria Ilyina