Draft amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code to strengthen responsibility for the rehabilitation of Nazism on the Internet have been submitted to the State Duma

Irina Yarovaya proposes to punish legal entities for the rehabilitation of Nazism on the Internet.

On November 6, 2020, Deputy Irina Yarovaya submitted two bills to the State Duma: on amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (CAO) and Art. 354.1 of the Criminal Code (rehabilitation of Nazism).

In part 2 of Art. 354.1 of the Criminal Code, which includes a list of aggravating circumstances, it is proposed to add a mention of "information and telecommunications networks, in including the Internet" . Thus, the rehabilitation of Nazism on the Internet will qualify in the same way as the dissemination of such information in the media. The sanction for this part of the article is higher than for part 1, and provides for a fine of 100 to 500 thousand rubles , forced labor up to five years, as well as imprisonment up to five years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years.

Art. 13.15 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (abuse of freedom of the media), the deputy proposes to supplement part 4.1, according to which "public dissemination of information denying the facts established by the verdict of the International Military Tribunal for the trial and punishment of the main war criminals of the European Axis countries, or approving the crimes established by the specified verdict, and equally public dissemination of deliberately false information about the activities of the USSR during the Second World War, including those committed with the use of mass media and (or) information and telecommunication networks (including the Internet)" will be punished by an administrative fine for legal entities from one and a half to three million rubles confiscation of the subject of the administrative offense or without it.

In explanatory notes, the deputy insists that the proposed changes will provide a "comprehensive protection of historical memory and the inevitability of the responsibility of all those responsible for the rehabilitation of Nazism", as well as "balance the existing liability measures."

As a reminder, we believe that Art. 354.1 of the Criminal Code is actually aimed at prohibiting historical discussion, and the prosecution of citizens and legal entities on it is a significant restriction on freedom of speech.

Sources

• Bill No. 1050812-7 // CREATION GAS "Lawmaking". November 6, 2020
• Bill No. 1050733-7 // CREATION GAS "Lawmaking". November 6, 2020