Vladimir Putin plans to make a chilling move in order to silence critics of his war in Ukraine by introducing a new law. The Russian leader is planning to make it legal for the state to seize property from those who criticise the war, defame the armed forces or support sanctions against the country.
Criticising what Russia calls its “special military operation” has been a crime ever since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, but now punishments could get harsher if the new laws are approved by the Kremlin.
The rules would also allow law enforcement officials to take money from any journalists convicted of publishing “fake information”, with the laws likely to be approved with the full support of all of Russia’s political parties.
Other items which could be taken include cars and homes.
Vyacheslav Volodin, chair of the State Duma said the new laws were “necessary to punish scoundrels, including cultural figures, who support Nazis, pour dirt on our country, soldiers and officers involved in the war”.
He said: “Anyone who tries to destroy Russia, betrays it, must be punished as they deserve and compensate the damage caused to the country at the expense of their property.”
Mr Volodin said anyone found to be “discrediting” the army would also be stripped of any honorary titles.
Experts say the new law would make it easier for anti-war Russians to be punished.
The existing bill outlawing criticism of the war has already seen multiple activists given long jail sentences.
These include Boris Akunin, one of Russia’s best-selling authors, who was charged and added to a register of “extremists and terrorists”.
Another writer, Dmitry Glukhovsky, was also given an eight-year jail sentence after being found guilty of spreading misinformation about the Russian army.
