Justice Ministry prepares amendment to proposed map ban that would require proof of intent to ‘dispute Russia’s territorial integrity’

The Russian Justice Ministry has prepared an amendment to a draft law submitted to the State Duma in September that would ban maps that “dispute Russia’s territorial integrity.” Under the ministry’s changes, prosecutors would be required to prove that a map’s creator “knowingly distorted” Russia’s borders and intended to “dispute” its territory.

According to the outlet RBC, the Interior Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the FSB, the Economic Development Ministry, and the Federal Registration Service have all expressed approval for the amendment.

At the same time, Alexander Molokhov, the head of Moscow’s Last Patrol bar association, told journalists that proving intent is a “weak point” in Russia’s justice system.

“Intent is assumed, and nobody bothers to prove it. Because it’s very difficult to prove. As a result, people skirt around the ‘knowingly’ component. Unfortunately, our legal bodies don’t worry about proving intent, they just write that it’s all evident from the situation, that the totality of the evidence confirms intent,” he said.