The Union of Journalists will seek the abolition of responsibility for fakes about the military

The Union of Journalists of the Russian Federation (UJR) intends to insist on the abolition of criminal punishment for fakes about the army and administrative responsibility for discrediting it after the completion of the special operation in Ukraine. This was announced by the chairman of the UJR Vladimir Solovyov.

“We are talking about the fact that when the NWO is over, we will insist that all restrictions be lifted,” he said (quote according to TASS).

Solovyov explained that restrictions on the freedom of the press during the special operation were needed “in order not to harm.” According to him, journalists from Moscow and regional media contacted the SZhR several times when they were accused of “incorrect statements in relation to the SVO.” Solovyov noted that the administrative fine was annulled twice.

Russia’s special operation in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. In March, the State Duma added several new articles to the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offenses. According to Art. 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation), the violator faces a fine of up to 100,000 rubles. Repeated violation entails criminal liability (up to 5 years in prison). The maximum penalty for violation of Art. 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (fakes about the army) is 15 years in prison.

In particular, in December last year, in the case of fakes, Ilya Yashin, a former municipal deputy of the Krasnoselsky district of Moscow (recognized as a foreign agent in the Russian Federation), was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months in a colony. For discrediting the army were previously fined rapper Oxxxymiron (Miron Fedorov, recognized as a foreign agent), actor Artur Smolyaninov (recognized as a foreign agent), ex-mayor of Yekaterinburg Yevgeny Roizman (recognized as a foreign agent), etc.