A package of “wartime laws” has been adopted in Russia despite the resistance of Duma populists
The State Duma today introduced amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Now heavy fines and real prison sentences threaten those who block roads, threatening the safety and property of citizens, slanderers and foreign agents who do not comply with Russian legislation.
The first two changes caused protests from the Duma opposition. Communist Alexey Kurinny believes that “the amendments are disproportionate and artificial.” In his opinion, this is “an intensification of repressive measures imposed by the leading party.”
“All this is aimed at having a preventive impact on those who organize protests and express their opinions. You can get two years for meeting in one place and discussing some issues. The rapid introduction of these laws is a reflection of why they are being adopted - to scare, to limit public activity,” Kurinny said
A member of A Just Russia, Oleg Nilov, is also surprised by the “storm order” in the adoption of changes to the Criminal Code. Moreover, according to his data, the courts in Russia this year considered only 60 libel cases.
“Let's finally deal with the corrupt officials. People are outraged that corrupt embezzlers are not punished at all. They get off with a slight fright. That’s where people get their anger, which is expressed through obscene language,” Nilov said.
“Maybe it’s right to explain to our voters that these are martial laws. Only this can explain the infringement of the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens. Let's designate the validity period of these temporary, experimental bills. If this war turns from a hybrid sanctions war into a tougher one, there will be no elections at all. And it is not necessary. Let's appoint governors general. But don’t you want strict responsibility – to put embezzlers against the wall? Let's tighten the legislation in a comprehensive manner for everyone. And then front-line rations - without dividends, billions from losses - to our bankers and top managers,” the Socialist-Revolutionary suggested.
LDPR deputy Sergei Ivanov proposed eliminating imprisonment as a punishment for libel and leaving only fines, but his amendment did not pass. “They are now saying about Furgal that he is the organizer of the murder. If the person turns out to be innocent, no one will be held responsible for this. I don’t call for putting them in prison,” Ivanov said.
And only the introduction of criminal liability for foreign agents did not cause discussions in the Russian parliament and was unanimously approved.
Minsk political scientist Alexander Shpakovsky believes that the tightening of Russian legislation is connected with the events in Belarus - the Russian authorities are taking measures to prevent a repeat of Belomaidan.
“The Russians are getting ready. In this sense, Belarus has fulfilled its strategic function as a “balcony” for Moscow... the geopolitical battle has already begun in Belarus, and will continue in Russia. And the future fate of Belarus directly depends on the outcome of Russian events. This is exactly how everything is connected,” writes Shpakovsky in his Telegram channel.
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