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Russia does not prosecute people for their beliefs — Medvedev

"Those who are accused of extremist criminal offenses are not prosecuted for their beliefs," the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council pointed out

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. People in Russia cannot be criminally prosecuted simply for what they believe, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said, answering questions from Russian media, including TASS.

Medvedev emphasized that people in Russia can only be punished for the things they say and do.

"Those who are accused of extremist criminal offenses are not prosecuted for their beliefs," the deputy chairman pointed out, citing Boris Akunin (real name Grigory Chkhartishvili, recognized as a foreign agent) as an example. "A person can leave the country, a person can hate the authorities. There is no winning love by force," he added.

But "wishing defeat on your Fatherland, even if you are disappointed about something, and death on your soldiers," Medvedev emphasized, "is both a terrible sin and, under current laws, a criminal offense." "Such people should be prosecuted - and laws should be adopted, very tough ones, <...>, their property should be confiscated," Medvedev believes.

"A man sits abroad and says, 'Yes, yes, bomb Russian cities,' and on the other hand, his books are sold or his scripts are bought. It shouldn't be like this," Medvedev said. "This would be like during the Great Patriotic War paying royalties to Berlin," he explained.

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Dmitry Medvedev Russia's domestic policy

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