The State Duma adopted a law prohibiting discrediting and slandering participants in a special military operation

CrimeaPRESS reports:

The punishment is severe! Not only administrative, but also criminal.

The State Duma at the plenary session adopted in the third reading amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses, and changes to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, providing for liability for the dissemination of deliberately false information about the provision of assistance by volunteer formations in the performance of the tasks assigned to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Their authors were deputies headed by the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin.

Everyone who today, risking their lives, ensures the security of the country and citizens, are protected from provocations and lies— wrote Chairman of the State Duma in his Telegram channel. — Such actions are not allowed. Severe punishment threatens the scoundrels — up to 15 years in prison … Today is just the moment of truth. You and I must think about the soldiers and officers, who are in the trenches today, who will come tomorrow, about the volunteers who will go there. Today, every soldier and officer, regardless of whether he is in the armed formations, volunteers, must understand: lies and slander against him will be punished, and they are protected by law.

Volodin also recalled that in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the authorities failed to protect the military, and «officers in uniform tried not to be in public places.»

This was done by the authorities, who did not think about their soldiers defending it and the country, carrying out tasks and orders.— said the head of the lower house of parliament.

In accordance with the amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the rules on liability for public actions aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will be extended to volunteer formations, organizations or individuals who assist in the performance of tasks assigned to the Armed Forces.

In addition, the punishment under Part 1 of Art. 207.3 and part 1 of Art. 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation increases from three to five years. The punishment under Part 2 of Art. 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (repeated discredit that entailed dangerous consequences) — from five to seven years in prison. The maximum term of imprisonment is up to 15 years, and fines are up to 5 million rubles.

In turn, Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation will be supplemented with liability for discrediting volunteer formations, organizations or individuals who perform tasks for the RF Armed Forces. Fines under this article amount to up to 50 thousand rubles for citizens and up to 500 thousand rubles for legal entities.

Criminal punishment occurs if the violator has already been brought to administrative responsibility for similar actions during the year.