The Russian government has “conceptually supported” a bill that would allow Russians who have left the country to be held accountable under articles on “discrediting” the army and insulting Vladimir Putin. This was reported on Wednesday, August 21, by Kommersant, citing government documents.
The State Council of Tatarstan proposed introducing such amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses (CAO), the publication writes. In addition to articles on “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces and insulting the head of state, the deputies proposed fining Russians who have left under articles on inciting hatred, on calls to violate Russia’s territorial integrity and impose sanctions, as well as articles related to “extremism” and “abuse of freedom of speech.”
In addition, the State Council of Tatarstan proposed extending the period during which one can be held accountable under these articles to two years: currently it is from three months to a year.
At the same time, as Kommersant writes, the Russian government does not yet understand how notification of citizens who have left will be carried out and proceedings will be carried out on cases involving them.
Currently, the Russian authorities can hold Russians abroad accountable only under the article on participation in an “undesirable” organization.
