According to RT, on April 9, Russian President Putin signed a law stipulating that denying or endorsing the fact that the Soviet people suffered genocide, as well as insulting the memory of the victims or desecrating their graves, could result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The relevant documents have been published on the official website.
The new law signed by President Putin on April 9 criminalizes the denial or endorsement of the so-called "genocide of the Soviet people," with a maximum penalty of five years in prison. This can be seen as a pivotal step in the formalization of Russia's official historical narrative through legislation. It builds upon a series of legal and political initiatives pursued by Russia over recent years, with the deeper aim of consolidating historical memory and providing support for current geopolitical maneuvering.
This new law establishes criminal liability for three types of actions:
Speech-related: Publicly denying the fact that the Soviet people suffered genocide during World War II, or expressing approval of such denial.
Action-related: Insulting the memory of the victims, or desecrating their graves within Russia or abroad.
Punishments vary depending on the severity of the offense: a maximum of three years in prison for ordinary circumstances; if aggravating factors are present—such as using one’s public office, media platforms, or online networks—the maximum penalty increases to five years in prison, along with a fine of up to 5 million rubles.
Russia’s legislative move is worth examining and learning from.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862037815468044/
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