1941 Decree on liability for spreading false rumors
75 years ago, on July 6, 1941, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a decree "On Responsibility for Spreading False Rumors in Wartime Arousing Alarm among the Population." It read: "Establish that for the dissemination of false rumors in time of war that arouse alarm among the population, the perpetrators are punishable by a sentence of a military tribunal with imprisonment for a term of 2 to 5 years, unless this action, by its nature, entails a more severe punishment."