State Duma introduces criminal liability for calls for sanctions against Russia

Such deeds will be punishable with a fine, or by deprivation of liberty, obligatory labor, arrest, or imprisonment

At a meeting on Friday the State Duma adopted a draft law in the second and the third reading, including criminal liability for calls for the introduction of foreign sanctions against Russia.

Qazet.az reports that the Russian Criminal Code will now be updated by a new article "Calls for the introduction of restrictive measures against the Russian Federation, citizens of the Russian Federation or Russian legal entities." The draft legislation will cover individuals with previous administrative responsibility for related offenses during a year.

Such deeds will be punishable with a fine of up to 500,000 rubles ($4,700) or in the amount of the salary or any other income of the convicted person for a period of up to three years, or by deprivation of liberty, obligatory labor for up to three years, arrest for up to six months, or imprisonment for up to three years with a possible fine of up to 200,000 rubles ($2,000) or in the amount of the convicted person’s salary for a period of up to one year.

If the offense is repeated within a year, criminal liability will already be imposed for it. The State Duma also made the necessary changes to the Russian Criminal Code at a meeting on Friday