On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law authorizing the confiscation of property for those who commit acts “detrimental to national security” or disseminate false news about Russia’s military, as reported by TASS. This move comes following the approval of the bill by Russian lawmakers through their lower house, the State Duma, in January.
The newly enacted law broadens scope for property seizures, applying to crimes under Russia Criminal Code (RCC) Article 207.3, which pertains to the dissemination of “patently false” information about the Russian Armed Forces or Russian State Bodies, and RCC Article 280.4, covering public calls for activities against state security. The expanded list now includes a total of 30 RCC articles.
Chairman of the Russian State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, previously unveiled on Telegram the details of the legislation enabling the confiscation of funds or assets used for alleged malicious activities against Russian security. Predominantly, the legislation targets offenses detailed in Articles 207, 354, and 280 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, 1996. Provisions also address false information about the Russian Armed Forces, the incitement of extremism, actions harming the reputation of the Armed Forces, calls for violating Russian integrity, aiding non-partnership international organizations, and advocating sanctions against Russia.
The Committee to Protect Journalists along with Thomson Reuters compiled a guide enumerating measures journalists can take to avoid prosecution under these new laws. It indicates that spreading “knowingly false information” about the Russian Armed forces could invite penalties like a fine, a year of corrective labor, and/or imprisonment for up to three years.
This development reinforces a government trend of suppressing free expression and speech in Russia. It follows Russia’s probes into Duolingo for alleged “LGBT propaganda” and the labeling of the “international LGBT movement” as an extremist group. Despite the recent enactment of the law, investigations have already been conducted into journalists for “discrediting” its armed forces and “disseminating fake news” prior to Putin signing the law.