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Amended espionage, treason articles come into force

Separate article on “Illegal receipt of information constituting a state secret” has been introduced in the RF Criminal Code

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, November 14 (Itar-Tass) — New versions of the RF Criminal Code articles dealing with espionage and treason have entered into force in Russia. The amendments to the Criminal Code, adopted by both houses of Russia’s parliament and signed by the RF President are published in the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper on Wednesday.

The amendments clarify the treason notion. In particular, not only the activities in the interests of foreign intelligence services, but also in the interests of international organisations, if they are directly engaged in intelligence activities, can be regarded as treason.

The law extends the concepts of the three articles of the RF Criminal Code – “Treason,” “Espionage” and “Divulging State Secrets.”

In addition, a separate article on “Illegal receipt of information constituting a state secret” has been introduced in the RF Criminal Code. Under it, the offender faces up to four years in prison, if he got access to state secrets by theft, fraud, blackmail or other unlawful means. The article deals with attempts to illegally gain access to classified information without the possible aim of espionage or treason.

This Federal Law shall enter into force on the day of its official publication.

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