MOSCOW, March 15. /TASS/. Russia’s Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) has passed a law criminalizing the slander of any participants in the special military operation, including volunteers.

The law increases the maximum penalty for the crime from five to seven years in prison.

Article 280.3 of the Russian Criminal Code currently establishes liability only for public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the Russian Armed Forces overseas. However, the public discrediting of all participants in the special military operation, including volunteer units, organizations and individuals facilitating the Russian Armed Forces’ missions, will now be punishable under the law.

According to the above-mentioned article of the Russian Criminal Code, those who commit a crime within one year after receiving an administrative punishment may be handed up to three years in prison. The law that Russian senators passed on Wednesday increases the penalty to five years. In addition, the maximum penalty for causing death and mass riots has been increased from five to seven years behind bars.