Russian Law Would Punish 'Fake' News About Ukraine Invasion With 15 Years
On Friday, the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's legislature, will consider a bill that would make "unofficial" reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The bill would give prison sentences of three years for the fabrication of false information; 10 years for disseminating false information through an official position, the internet, or a group of people; and 15 years for disseminating false information with socially dangerous consequences, according to Kommersant, the independent Russian nationally distributed daily newspaper.
"[This bill] is an obvious threat to free speech and the independent press," said Gulnoza Said, the Europe and Central Asia program coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists.
"The State Duma should withdraw this proposed legislation, and authorities must allow the media to freely cover all events related to the invasion of Ukraine," Said added.
If passed, the bill will head to the upper house of the Russian parliament before heading to the desk of Russian President Vladimir Putin to be signed into law.
The bill is part of the Russian government's wider crackdown against "unofficial Russian information outlets."
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