Russia wants to crack down on criticism of armed groups like Wagner
They were discussed in early March. The State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, today passed an amendment punishing criticism of “volunteer” groups fighting in Ukraine. This term is regularly used by the Russian authorities to describe the mercenaries of the Wagner paramilitary group, which is very active on the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
Criminal sanctions, which “punish the fact of discrediting the Armed Forces of Russia, will be extended to the formations of volunteers, organizations and individuals who help the Armed Forces in fulfilling their mission,” the Duma announced on its website. “Everyone who is risking their lives today to ensure the security of the country and its citizens will be protected from provocations and lies with this law,” estimated Duma President Vyacheslav Volodin, specifying that the “sanctions will be heavy , imprisonment for up to fifteen years”.
This amendment, which has yet to be approved by the Upper House (Council of the Federation) and put into effect by Vladimir Putin, would supplement legislation passed shortly after the March 2022 invasion of Ukraine and censor criticism of the armed forces. After years of denying their existence, Russian authorities fully recognize Wagner’s soldiers who are currently on the front lines fighting for the Ukrainian town of Bachmout.
In January, Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin asked parliament to ban negative media coverage of the paramilitary group through an amendment to the Criminal Code, a demand quickly accepted by Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin.
According to the human rights organization OVD-Info, the Russian prosecutor’s office has already opened more than 5,800 cases against people accused of discrediting the armed forces.
In this still from a video released by Yevgeny Prigozhin’s press service on Friday, March 3, 2023, the founder of the Wagner Group addresses Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and asks him to help the Ukrainian armed forces still in Bachmut decide to withdraw to save their lives. PRIGOZHIN/AP PRESS SERVICE