Russian lawmakers propose tougher penalties for inciting ‘terrorism’ and riots. Online comments advocating mass unrest could mean up to six years in prison.
State Duma members Vasily Piskarev and Eduard Valeyev of United Russia have drafted a bill to toughen penalties for public calls for terrorism and mass unrest. The government has backed the bill, TASS reported, citing an official cabinet assessment the news agency obtained.
For public calls for mass unrest, the bill would raise the maximum term for court-ordered restrictions on offenders’ movements from two to three years and the maximum sentences of forced labor and imprisonment from two to four years. Calls for unrest made online would carry up to six years in prison.
For public calls for terrorism, the bill would also set a two-year minimum and a six-year maximum for an additional penalty barring offenders from holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities. Currently, there is no minimum, and the maximum is five years.
The lawmakers said the amendments were needed to “strengthen the deterrent effect of criminal law.”
They said public calls for terrorism are often made “in closed groups whose members have no intention of reporting what is happening to law enforcement” or assisting the authorities. For that reason, the lawmakers believe the additional penalty barring offenders from engaging in certain activities should have a minimum term and a higher maximum.
TASS did not specify whether the bill had been submitted to the State Duma or when the lawmakers planned to submit it.
According to OVD-Info, calls for terrorism under Article 205.2 of Russia’s Criminal Code remained the most common charge in political cases in 2025, with 102 criminal investigations opened under that article. In 2024, 147 investigations were opened under it.
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