Putin signed a law on sentences of up to five years after two consecutive violations of the law on “foreign agents”

President Vladimir Putin signed a law that introduces sentences of up to five years in prison for the third violation of the law on “foreign agents” within a year. This is reported on the legal information portal.

Changes were made to Article 330.1 of the Criminal Code. Previously, it was called “malicious evasion of duty” by a person declared a “foreign agent.” Now the word “malicious” has been removed.

The State Duma adopted this law at the end of December. OVD-Info lawyer Daria Korolenko said that such amendments will make it possible to initiate criminal cases against “foreign agents” in a simplified manner.

In 2022, the authorities significantly tightened the legislation on “foreign agents.” Now it is much easier to obtain such status. Thus, recognized as a “foreign agent.” a person who is “under foreign influence” and is engaged in “political activity,” for example, discusses news on the Internet, can be

Corrected at 20:57. The headline and lead of the news erroneously stated that a criminal case was being opened for two violations in a row.