Russian lawmakers pass bill allowing confiscation of assets for spreading ‘false information’ about military
The lower house of Russia’s parliament has approved a bill that permits authorities to seize the assets of individuals convicted of disseminating “deliberately false information” regarding the military.
The State Duma passed the legislation, anticipated to receive approval from the upper house and President Vladimir Putin.
Once enacted, it grants the government the authority to confiscate money, valuables, and other assets from those criticizing the conflict in Ukraine.
The law targets individuals convicted of inciting “extremist activities,” advocating actions detrimental to national security, or “discrediting” the armed forces.
Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stated that the bill aims at “scoundrels and traitors” who malign soldiers or support Ukraine financially.
The notion of “discrediting” the military is already deemed a criminal offense under existing legislation introduced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
This law, encompassing acts like justifying terrorism and spreading misinformation about the military, has been wielded extensively to suppress dissent against Putin’s regime.
Numerous activists, bloggers, and citizens have faced severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences, detention, or fines, for voicing opposition to the war amidst a widening crackdown on free expression and criticism of Putin’s administration.
Renowned writer Dmitry Glukhovsky was sentenced to eight years in absentia for allegedly spreading false information about Russia’s armed forces.
Similarly, bestselling novelist Grigory Chkhartishvili, writing under the pseudonym Boris Akunin, was charged under the law and labeled an “extremist” by Russian authorities.
In separate incidents, an artist and musician, Sasha Skochilenko, received a seven-year jail term, while blogger Aleksandr Nozdrinov was sentenced to 8.5 years for sharing images suggesting Russian involvement in the destruction of buildings in Kyiv.
Despite the intensified suppression of dissent, the Kremlin maintains its narrative of unified support for the war within Russian society.
Source-Aljazeera
