[モスクワ １日 ロイター] – Legislative amendments to the law against defamation of Russian private military and military companies such as the Wagner Group were submitted to parliament on the 1st. Protects Wagner’s mercenaries as well as extends prison sentences.
Russia introduced comprehensive censorship laws shortly after it launched its invasion of Ukraine a year ago.
Under current law, discrediting the military is punishable by up to five years in prison, while knowingly spreading false information about the military is punishable by up to 15 years.
Borodin, the Speaker of the House of Commons who proposed the amendment, said the law would be tougher, with a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for both charges.
“It is an initiative to protect all those who risk their lives to ensure the security of the Russian state and people, and that criminals will be severely punished,” he wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Penalties include a fine of up to 5 million rubles ($66,580), forced labor for up to five years and imprisonment for up to 15 years.
It will also, for the first time, provide protection to Wagner’s mercenary units fighting in Ukraine and other military groups with volunteers.
Wagner founder Evgeny Prigozhin praised the proposed law. “It allows us to protect the rights of individuals who defend the Russian state,” he said in a letter to Borodin posted on Telegram.
The House of Commons will consider Mr Borodin’s bill on Wednesday. The final vote is scheduled for the 14th.
