ChrisO_wikiJun 26, 2023
1/ The Russian authorities appear to be regretting recently passing a law that makes criticism of the Wagner Group a criminal offence. Thousands of Russians, likely including Vladimir Putin himself, are now theoretically subject to criminal charges attracting years in jail. ⬇️
Show threadChrisO_wikiJun 26, 2023
2/ In January 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin began lobbying for criticism of Wagner to be criminalised under the same article as the existing offence of "discrediting the Russian armed forces", which has been used to suppress criticism of the war in Ukraine.
https://mastodon.social/@ChrisO_wiki/109749170464261997
Show threadChrisO_wiki
3/ Speaker of the Russian Parliament Vyacheslav Volodin introduced new legislation to allow prosecutions for "fakes" and "discrediting" "volunteer formations, organizations or persons assisting in the performance of tasks assigned to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation".
Jun 26, 2023 at 11:45amWeb
Show threadChrisO_wikiJun 26, 2023
4/ It increased punishments from three to five years' imprisonment for "fake information" and from five to seven years for "discrediting". The offences are increased to "medium gravity" (roughly equivalent to an upgrade from a misdemenour to a felony).
Show threadChrisO_wikiJun 26, 2023
5/ As the State Duma is effectively a Putin-controlled rubber stamp, the new legislation was duly passed in March. But there's just one problem: Wagner are now officially regarded as bad guys, as State Duma Deputy Chairman Vladislav Davankov has pointed out:
Show threadChrisO_wikiJun 26, 2023

6/ "If left unchanged [the norms of the law], thousands of Russians could be jailed for 15 years for expressing a civil position on the actions of the PMC [Private Military Company] leadership after Saturday's events. Would that be reasonable and fair? Of course not. There should be a moratorium on prosecuting under this article, at least for public opinions about the actions of PMCs and the armed forces outside the combat zone." /end

Source:
https://t.me/astrapress/31095

ASTRA

«После субботних событий тысячи россиян можно посадить на 15 лет», — российский депутат Владислав Даванков заявил, что, если не изменить закон о «дискредитации» армии, то за критику ЧВК «Вагнер» после мятежа Пригожина можно посадить «тысячи россиян». «Если оставить их без изменений [нормы закона], за выражение гражданской позиции по действиям руководства ЧВК после субботних событий тысячи россиян можно посадить на 15 лет. Будет ли это разумно и справедливо? Конечно, нет. Нужен мораторий на возбуждение дел по этой статье как минимум за публичные мнения относительно действий ЧВК и вооруженных сил вне зоны боевых действий», — заявил он «Коммерсанту».

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