Vladimir Putin signed a law that introduces criminal liability for «discrediting» mercenaries and spreading «fakes» about them. The document was published on the official Internet portal of legal information.
Now Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code, which dealt with «fake» about the Russian army, applies to «volunteer formations, organizations or persons» that help the Russian army. The maximum punishment under the first part of this article was increased from three years in prison to five. The maximum punishment for the second and third parts does not change — ten and fifteen years in prison, respectively.
Amendments were also made to article 280.3 of the Criminal Code — now it refers to the repeated «discredit» not only of the army, but also of mercenaries , volunteers. The punishment under the first part of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code will be increased from three to five years in prison. The punishment for the second part is from five to seven years.
Prohibition on discrediting convicts. The State Duma protects Wagner PMC from fakes