Russia: Passed Bill No. 9712-8 establishing criminal liability for misinformation on Russian state bodies

On 22 March 2022, the Russian Duma passed amendments to the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation to expand the criminal liability for spreading misinformation regarding the work of Russian state bodies operating abroad. Previously, on 4 March 2022, a Federal Law had introduced criminal liability regarding the spread of misinformaiton on the Russian army. The new amendments concern misinformation on activities of all Russian state agencies operating abroad. The amendments prescribe that anyone who disseminates “knowingly” false information about Russian state bodies operating abroad can be fined up to RUB 1.5 million and can be sentenced to prison for up to 3 years. The same act by an official, a group of persons, with the artificial creation of evidence, for mercenary motives or based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred can be sanctioned with a fine of up to RUB 5 million or imprisonment for up to 10 years. Moreover, actions discrediting the exercise by Russian state bodies abroad will bring a criminal sanction of up to RUB 300'000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years. Such discrediting actions may also cause an an administrative fine of up to RUB 50'000 for individuals, up to RUB 200'000 for officials and up to RUB 500'000 for legal entities. If such actions include calls for holding unauthorized public events or threatening public order or the citizens' health, the administrative fine is raised to up to RUB 100'000 for individuals, up to RUB 300'000 for officials and up to RUB 1 milllion for legal entities.