If you criticise, go to jail! Russians will be jailed for criticising the Wagnerites

Kremlin head Vladimir Putin has signed a law that establishes liability for Russians for "discrediting" war participants, including mercenaries. The relevant document appeared on the portal of legal information on 18 March.

The bill amends the existing article on "fakes" about the Russian army (207.3 of the Criminal Code). Previously the law only protected regular servicemen and mobilized soldiers from "fakes", but it did not say anything about military formations and PMCs.

The maximum penalty under the first part of this article is now increased from three years in prison to five. The maximum penalties under the second and third parts of the article remain unchanged at 10 and 15 years in prison, respectively.

The maximum penalty under Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code in the new version of the law will be up to seven years in prison (previously it was five).

According to the Duma, criminal punishment will be imposed if the offender has already been held administratively liable for similar actions within a year. Initially, Russians will be fined, while repeated dissatisfaction or criticism of the army will be sent to prison.