Russian Federation

[RU] New fines for media and "false journalists"

IRIS 2021-6:1/13

Andrei Richter

Comenius University (Bratislava)

On 30 April 2021, President Vladimir Putin signed into law amendments to the Code on Administrative Offences. Under the new paragraph 2.4 of Article 13.15 of the Code, dissemination in the mass media and in online messages and materials of the mass media of messages and/or materials of foreign mass media performing the functions of a foreign agent and/or a Russian legal entity included in the Register of foreign mass media, performing the functions of a foreign agent, without indicating that these messages and/or materials were created and/or disseminated by foreign mass media performing the functions of a foreign agent and/or a Russian legal entity included in the Register of foreign mass media, performing the functions of a foreign agent, - shall be a punishable offence, in the case of media entities with a monetary fine of up to RUB 50 000 (around EUR 550). Individual journalists can face fines of up to RUB 2 500 (around EUR 28) and officials up to RUB 5 000 (around EUR 56) for the same violations.

The same amendments also make an administrative offence of the use of the “PRESS” sign by a person who has no such right. A new paragraph 6.2 of Article 20.2 of the Code introduces relevant fines of up to RUB 30,000 (around EUR 335).