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Putin signs bills to ease punishment for social media likes and reposts

The amendments partially decriminalize offenses related to stirring up of hatred or enmity, and to violation of human dignity

Russian President Vladimir Putin Alexei Druzhinin/Russian president's press service/TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin

© Alexei Druzhinin/Russian president's press service/TASS

MOSCOW, December 28. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a package of documents to mitigate responsibility in the cases on social media ‘likes’ and reposts containing prohibited information, according to documents uploaded to the official online database of Russian legal information on Thursday.

The amendments partially decriminalize Article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code (stirring up of hatred or enmity, and equally violation of human dignity).

The amendments concern softening punishment first of all for Internet users. The crimes committed for first time related to stirring up hatred or humiliating people for their sex, race, nationality, language, origin, religion and belonging to a social group in public, including through mass media and the Internet, will be removed from the Criminal Code and be considered as administrative offences.

Under the proposal, fines of between 10,000 rubles ($150) and 20,000 rubles ($300) or compulsory works of up to 100 hours or an administrative arrest for up to 15 days will be introduced for individuals. Legal entities will face fines of between 250,000 rubles ($3,750) and 500,000 rubles ($7,500).

Felony penalties will take effect if an administrative offence is committed twice during the year. These crimes will be punishable by prison terms of between two and five years, like under the previous Criminal Code provisions.

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