The Prosecutor General’s Office proposed to consider Russophobia in the West as extremism

The Prosecutor General’s Office considers it necessary to “not disregard” cases of manifestation of Russophobia abroad. Yury Khokhlov, head of the Department for Supervision of the Implementation of Laws on Federal Security, Interethnic Relations, and Countering Extremism and Terrorism of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation, proposed qualifying them as a manifestation of extremism.

“Conceptually agreeing with the need not to ignore the manifestations of Russophobia that were noted both in the past year and continuing this year in Western countries, including in relation to the cultural heritage of Russia, I would consider Russophobia as a manifestation of extremism,” said Yuri Khokhlov at a meeting of the Permanent Commission of the Human Rights Council (HRC) on international cooperation (TASS quote).

During the meeting, Mr. Khokhlov announced the need to strengthen the responsibility for the manifestation of Russophobia, since this “unpleasant” phenomenon has spread in Western countries. In this regard, he noted that it is necessary to work out the content of the concept of “Russophobia” in order to avoid its “unjustified interpretation.” According to him, the victims of this phenomenon are people of various nationalities who speak Russian.

“We are ready to take part in the development of mechanisms that suit possible gaps in legal regulation in this area,” Yuri Khokhlov assured. He noted that the manifestation of Russophobia can be considered under Article 280 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“public calls for the implementation of extremist activities”), as well as Art. 136 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. (“violation of the equality of rights and freedoms of man and citizen”).

Public incitement to extremism can be punished with imprisonment of up to four years. The maximum punishment under the article on violation of equality of rights and freedoms is imprisonment for up to five years.

January 13, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin following the meeting of the HRC named Russophobia as a “political technology for the fight against Russia and the social mobilization of Europeans.” In this regard, he instructed to make the necessary additions or a new article on Russophobia to the criminal code, qualify this phenomenon in the legal field and determine the measure of responsibility.

Lusine Balasyan