Russian Bill Targets Assets of People Who Spread ‘Fake News’ About Military

A potential new law in Russia aims to authorize the confiscation of property belonging to individuals convicted of intentionally spreading what is considered false information about the country's armed forces.

If the legislation is enacted, it would extend the state's authority to seize assets from Russian expatriates who criticize the conflict in Ukraine.

The proposed law specifically targets those found guilty of publicly advocating "extremist activities," promoting actions that could jeopardize state security, or "discrediting" the armed forces.

Vyacheslav Volodin, the Speaker of the Duma, stated that the bill is directed at "scoundrels and traitors," referring to individuals who disrespect Russian soldiers, betray their homeland, or financially support a country engaged in hostilities with Russia.

The act of "discrediting" the armed forces is already classified as a criminal offense under an existing law implemented during a widespread government crackdown on dissent following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

This law encompasses offenses like "justifying terrorism" and disseminating "fake news" about the military, and has been extensively used to silence critics of President Putin.

The consequences of this legislation have been witnessed in the form of numerous activists, bloggers, and other Russian citizens receiving lengthy prison sentences, facing detentions, or being fined for expressing opposition to the war amidst an escalating suppression of free speech.

Renowned author Dmitry Glukhovsky was sentenced to eight years in absentia after a Moscow court found him guilty in August of intentionally spreading false information about Russia's armed forces.

Similarly, Grigory Chkhartishvili, a bestselling novelist known as Boris Akunin, was charged under the law and added to the Russian register of "extremists and terrorists" in December.

In November, an artist and musician named Sasha Skochilenko received a seven-year jail term in St Petersburg for swapping supermarket price tags with antiwar messages.

A month earlier, Russian blogger Aleksandr Nozdrinov was sentenced to 8.5 years for posting photos of destroyed buildings in Kyiv, accompanied by a caption suggesting Russian troops were responsible.

Despite the crackdown on dissent, the Kremlin maintains the assertion that Russian society is unified in supporting the ongoing conflict.