Rights activists say law signed by Russian President Putin has wide scope for abuse as it allows courts to jail people for showing disrespect for authorities and block media for 'fake news'
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the public in Simferopol, Crimea. March 18, 2019.
The law on disrespecting authorities backs punishment for "offending state symbols" and stipulates hefty fines and jail terms of 15 days for repeat offenders. Critics say the legislation is vaguely worded and would have large scope for abuse, further complicating the difficult and sometimes deadly work of rights activists and opposition journalists in Russia.
"This is a completely new level which almost literally repeats the Soviet-era law about 'activities undermining the Soviet system' and 'anti-Soviet campaigning and propaganda'." Mikhail Fedotov, the chairman of the Kremlin's human rights' council, said that the legislation had "numerous flaws" and his group had asked the president to reject it."Authorities want people to hate in silence," mass-circulation tabloid"The authorities' desire to gag their subjects is a very old, shameful and meaningless desire."
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