Putin signs law criminalizing denial of Nazi genocide of Soviet people during World War II
Vladimir Putin has signed a law making it a criminal offense to deny or approve what it describes as the Nazi genocide of the Soviet people during World War II, or to insult the memory of genocide victims. The law has been published on Russia’s official government legal information portal.
The law amends two articles of the Criminal Code — one covering the desecration of military graves and another covering the glorification of Nazism. Denying the genocide of the Soviet people or insulting the memory of its victims will carry a fine of up to 3 million rubles or a prison sentence of up to three years. Approving the genocide, or destroying or desecrating graves and memorials dedicated to genocide victims — including those abroad — will carry a fine of up to 5 million rubles or a prison sentence of up to five years.
Faridaily, an independent Russian political newsletter, reported that the Criminal Code amendments were pushed by Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigative Committee, Russia’s federal investigating authority. Bastrykin has repeatedly called for the genocide of the Soviet people to be enshrined in law and is widely considered the leading advocate for the measure.
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