Discrediting the participants of the SMO may lead to imprisonment for 15 years

We are talking about responsibility for discrediting the participants of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, including members of volunteer formations. The Speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin on March 1 announced the introduction of these amendments to the lower house. He stressed the inadmissibility of discrediting the Armed Forces of Russia, volunteer formations, organizations and citizens who contribute to the fulfillment of tasks in the area of the SVO.

The maximum penalty for violating the new rules is a fine of 5 million rubles or 15 years in prison.

Earlier, the founder of the Wagner PMCs and the Concord company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, appealed to the State Duma with a proposal to prohibit citizens from considering participants in hostilities as "villains and criminals." In January, the businessman's letter was received by Volodin, who instructed the relevant committee of the lower house to prepare amendments to Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code and articles 207.3 and 280.3 of the Criminal Code concerning "discrediting the army."