Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law criminating spreading fake news about Russian participants in the war in Ukraine, regardless of their status. The offense is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine worth up to 5 million rubles, the equivalence of $64,950, according to the official legal information portal.

The amendments roughen the punishment for discrediting deployment of the Russian armed forces abroad. They also raised the punishment threshold to seven years in prison for such an act.

Some amendments were introduced to an article concerning fake news about the Russian armed forces to include punishment for such acts involving volunteers as well. 

Fines on fake news

President Putin also signed a law on fines that reach up to 1 million rubles for disseminating instructions on the manufacture of ammunition to firearms on the internet or in the media. This is punishable for citizens by a fine of 10,000–50,000 rubles.

As for officials, a heavier fine is imposed ranging between 40,000 and 80,000 rubles. Sole proprietors are subject to a fine of 50,000–100,000 if they commit this offense. Juridical persons will have to pay a fine of 800,00-1 million rubles. 

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Proprietors and judicial persons could also be punished by administrative suspension of business activity for up to 90 days. 

The law discusses administrative liability for public actions aimed at discrediting the provision of assistance to the Russian army by volunteer formations, organizations, or individuals.

These offenses are punishable by an administrative fine, which also varies in status if the action does not include criminal acts. The fine varies between 30,000-50,000 for citizens, 100,000-200,000 for officials, and 300,000-500,000 for juridical persons.

The Russian President also signed a federal law to reduce the statute of limitation for several economy-related articles and the termination of criminal proceedings if the fines are paid in tax evasion cases.

Specifically for articles concerning tax evasion, the failure to perform duties of a tax agent, concealment of monetary resources, property of an organization, or a sole proprietor, and evasion from paying insurance premiums, maximum penalties will be reduced by 1-2 years in prison, "which will reduce the statute of limitations for criminal liability," the document said.

Putin signs law on termination of Ukrainian citizenship upon submitting application

Russian President Vladimir Putin also signed a law on the termination of Ukrainian citizenship for people also holding Russian citizenship on the day when a person submits a relevant application to the Russian Interior Ministry, according to the official legal information portal.

"The practical use of this mechanism should ensure such Russian citizens realize their rights to employment in state and municipal bodies … training in educational organizations that require admission of applicants to state secrets, as well as the resolution of other issue in which the Ukrainian citizenship may act as an impediment," the international committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, said in a note.

According to the law, once the application to terminate the Ukrainian citizenship is filed, a Russian citizen is obliged not to commit acts "related to the exercise of rights and fulfillment of obligations prescribed for Ukrainian citizens." If this obligation is breached, the authorities issue a ruling that nullifies the request to terminate their Ukrainian citizenship.

A citizen is eligible to file a new request to terminate their Ukrainian citizenship after 10 years from the ruling, the Federation Council said.

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