Russia moves to criminalize ‘Russophobia’

Valery Fadeyev, chairman of Russia’s Human Rights Council, is calling for a new law that would criminalize “Russophobia.”

“Our task is to try to come up with a legal definition of ‘Russophobia’ and with a list of applicable criminal law articles,” Fadeyev said, adding that if the criminal law does not contain a suitable provision, it should then be drafted.

Russia has no means of prosecuting foreign nationals abroad for “Russophobia,” says the official, suggesting that this calls for some “work.”

According to Fadeyev, banning “Russophobia” would conform to Vladimir Putin’s order to establish criminal penalties for discrimination against Russians living abroad.

A representative of the state Prosecutor’s Office seconded the initiative, proposing that “Russophobia” could be classified as a form of extremism.