Eva Deschamps / March 26, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law on Friday eveninga law punishing false information about Moscow's actions abroad with prison sentences of up to 15 years, an additional repressive weapon to control information about its offensive in Ukraine.
The law, which came into force with the presidential signature, punishes the public dissemination of knowingly false information under the guise of reliable information about the activities of Russian state bodies outside the Russian territory. The penalty rises to 15 years in prison if the false information has led to serious consequences. This law complements the one adopted at the beginning of March which provides for up to 15 years in prison for publishing false information about the Russian army.