MOSCOW. March 1 (Interfax) - State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has reported the submission to the State Duma of amendments to the Russian Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offenses on liability for discrediting special military operation participants.
"Any kind of public dissemination of knowingly false information and public actions aimed to discredit the Russian Armed Forces, volunteer units, entities and persons assisting in the accomplishment of tasks by the Russian Armed Forces, is inadmissible," Volodin said on Telegram on Wednesday.
The amendments envisage strict penalties, such as fines of up to 5 million rubles or in the amount of the salary or another income of the convict for up to five years, or corrective or forced labor for up to five years, or an imprisonment of up to 15 years, he said.
"This legislative initiative will protect all those who are risking their lives to ensure security of the country and our citizens," Volodin said.
The second reading of the amended bills is scheduled for Thursday, March 2. If the amendments pass in the second reading, the third, final reading will take place on Tuesday, March 14, he said.
Chairman of the State Duma Security Committee Vasily Piskaryov announced the submission of the amendments earlier. Head of the Wagner group Yevgeny Prigozhin asked the State Duma speaker to find a legislative solution to the problem, he said.