Russia laws ban 'disrespect' of government and 'fake news'

[muriel_volestrangler]

Russia's parliament has passed two bills outlawing "disrespect" of authorities and the spreading of what the government deems to be "fake news".

The first ban refers to "blatant disrespect" of the state, its officials and Russian society, and repeat offenders face up to 15 days in jail.

The second bill prohibits sharing "false information of public interest, shared under the guise of fake news," the TASS state news agency reported.
...
Journalists, human rights campaigners and even government ministers have voiced their opposition. Nikolai Svanidze, a journalist and member of Russia's Civic Chamber, said the "barbaric" legislation would "make journalists fearful of speaking and writing".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47488267

Sounds like it'd allow the authorities to persecute anyone they wanted to.

[DetlefK]

1. I've read a while ago that russian laws are intentionally ambiguous and imprecise.

That makes it extra-hard to 100% comply with them, so if the russian authorities want to find that you commited a crime, they 100% will find something.

For example, Russia has a law that children should not be subject to homosexual propaganda. But the law is written in such a wide and general manner that it effectively bans ANY positive depiction of homosexuality ANYWHERE.



If the russian authorities want to find that you spread fake news, they will find something.

"You complained about the illegal garbage-dump near your village? Well, the Kremlin says, that garbage-dump is not a health-hazard. That's fake news. You go to jail."