Russia to Impose Two-Year Prison Sentence for Insulting Officials Online or in Media

Russia is set to introduce stricter penalties, including imprisonment, for publicly insulting government officials, particularly through the internet or mass media. The proposal, prepared by Vasily Piskarev, the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security and Corruption Control, outlines amendments to the Russian Criminal Code, specifically targeting individuals who disrespect officials in the course of their duties. 

Currently, Russian law under Article 319 of the Criminal Code punishes such offenses with fines up to 40,000 rubles (around $430), mandatory community service of up to 360 hours, or correctional work for up to one year. However, under the proposed changes, these penalties would be significantly increased. Fines would double to 80,000 rubles, the number of mandatory work hours would rise to 460, and the period of correctional work would extend to two years.

The most notable change involves adding a new provision that addresses insults made specifically through the internet or media platforms. According to the amendment, those found guilty of insulting officials in this manner could face much harsher penalties. The fines could reach as high as 1 million rubles (around $10,800), and individuals could be banned from holding certain positions for up to three years. Additionally, they could be sentenced to up to 480 hours of mandatory work or two years of forced labor.

The maximum punishment under the new law would be imprisonment for up to two years, along with a ban from holding specific positions for up to three years. 

This initiative has already gained approval from the Legislative Commission of the Russian government, signaling that it is likely to move forward in the legislative process. If passed, the law would be a significant shift in Russia’s approach to public criticism of government officials, especially in the digital age where online discourse plays a major role.