From the MT:
“Russia
Introduces Jail Terms for Cooperation With Foreigners”
Russia's
parliament on Wednesday introduced harsh prison terms for calls to act against
national security and criminal liability for maintaining
"confidential" cooperation with foreigners. Public calls to act against
Russia's security will be punished by up to seven years in prison. Establishing
and maintaining "confidential" cooperation with a foreigner or
international organization and helping them act against the interests of Russia
will be punishable by up to eight years in prison. The development brings to
mind the Soviet era when contacts between Russians and foreigners were strictly
monitored.
Lawmakers also
toughened legislation on state treason and espionage. The measures were passed
on the 133rd day of Russia's military intervention in Ukraine. Russian society
is reeling from a historic crackdown on dissent which has intensified since
President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine on Feb. 24. Rights activists
fear the new legislation will be used to snuff out any last vestiges of
dissent. "The changes are an adequate and timely response to the
challenges that our country is currently facing," senior lawmaker Vasily
Piskarev said in a statement released by the lower house of parliament.
Collecting,
storing and transferring to the enemy information that can be used against the
Russian army will be considered a form of espionage and is to be punishable by
between 10 and 20 years in jail. Putin's decision to send troops to Ukraine has
led to a further clampdown on freedom of speech and media in the country and
sparked an exodus of foreign and independent Russian journalists. Criticism of
Russia's military intervention in Ukraine has essentially been banned in the
country, and the words "war" and "invasion" outlawed. In March, Russia passed into law prison
sentences of up to 15 years for spreading false information aimed at discrediting
its military forces.
^ Welcome to
Nazi Russia. ^
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