At Prigozhin’s behest, State Duma speaker pushes new repressive law against ‘discrediting’ Russian ‘war heroes’

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has called for an “urgent inquiry” into the possibility of criminalizing any criticism of the Russian troops and “participants in combat operations.”

Russian criminal law already punishes criticism of Russia’s military operations, chiefly the invasion of Ukraine, with up to five years in prison for those convicted of “discrediting the army.”

Amending the Criminal Code with a new article was proposed following Evgeny Prigozhin’s appeal to the legislators.

Volodin has often stressed that anyone who takes part in combat on the Russian side is a defender of Russia and a war hero, and should be treated accordingly.