Russia passes bill to authorise taking over assets of citizens who 'discredit the army'

The Russian parliament’s lower house on Wednesday passed a bill that permits the seizure of cash, valuables, and other assets from individuals found guilty of disseminating willfully inaccurate information about the military of the nation. The bill was swiftly approved by the State Duma and is now anticipated to pass the upper house and be signed by President Vladimir Putin. According to Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the Duma, those found guilty of openly inciting extremist activities or advocating for measures that would jeopardize state security or undermine the military would be subject to the new law. Discrediting the armed forces is a criminal offense under a law adopted as part of a sweeping government crackdown on dissent after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Everyone who tries to destroy Russia, who betrays it, must suffer the deserved punishment and pay compensation for the damage inflicted on the country, at the cost of their property, Volodin said. The proposed law does not appear to include real estate among the assets that can be seized. The existing law against discrediting the Russian military, which covers offenses such as justifying terrorism and spreading fake news about the armed forces, has been used extensively to silence Putin’s critics. Multiple activists, bloggers and ordinary Russians have received long jail terms. (with inputs from The Associated Press)