Bastrykin: Investigative Committee opened more than 150 cases for discrediting the Russian army

The head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin, said that to date, 152 criminal cases have been initiated against citizens of the Russian Federation under the article on discrediting the Russian armed forces, introduced in 2022. 136 Russians were prosecuted under this article. Alexandra Bastrykina is quoted by TASS.

It was announced that 53 criminal cases were brought to an end and reached the courts, and court decisions were issued on 16 citizens.

Recall one of the latest examples: a few days ago, a second-year student of the Sakhalin Maritime College became a defendant in an administrative case under this article. The student was reported to the police after he argued with the teacher. In relation to the student, a protocol was drawn up according to 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, he faces a fine of up to 50 thousand rubles. If this person repeats the offense within a year, the administrative case may become a criminal one.

Lawyers remind that the first part of the article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation” provides for a fine of up to 1.5 million rubles or imprisonment for up to 3 years. If the crime is committed by a group of persons, out of mercenary motives, then the second part of the same article applies. In this case, the punishment is more severe: a fine – up to 5 million rubles, imprisonment – up to 10 years.