MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. The Russian Interior Ministry has initiated more than 100 criminal cases over attempts at discrediting the Russian armed forces and 4,500 administrative offenses have been prevented, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said on Wednesday.

"A total of 4,500 administrative offenses involving attempts at discrediting the Armed Forces and spreading falsehoods about their operations have been upset. Over 100 criminal cases have been initiated on the basis of our materials," Kolokoltsev told the State Duma.

In March 2022, a law was passed to establish criminal punishment for the dissemination of falsehoods about the Russian Armed Forces. Article 207.3 (public dissemination of deliberately false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation) was introduced to the Criminal Code. This article envisages imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 1.5 million rubles. Also, administrative responsibility has also been introduced for discrediting Russian military servicemen.