Russia Introduces Penalties for Denying the Genocide of the Soviet People 0 9

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law introducing criminal liability for denying or approving the "genocide of the Soviet people" by the Nazis during the Great Patriotic War, as well as for insulting the memory of its victims. The document was published on the official internet portal of legal information on Thursday, April 9. At the end of March, the State Duma adopted the law in the second and third readings.

Amendments are being made to Article 354.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation regarding "rehabilitation of Nazism." For "denying the fact of the genocide of the Soviet people" or approving it, as well as for insulting the memory of the victims of such a crime, a fine of up to 3 million rubles, compulsory labor, or imprisonment for up to three years is established.

In addition, Article 243.4 of the Criminal Code on "desecration of military burials" is being supplemented. For the "destruction, damage, or desecration" of the burials of the victims of the "genocide of the Soviet people" located within the territory of Russia or beyond, as well as monuments, stelae, obelisks, and other memorial structures or objects commemorating their memory, a fine of 2 to 5 million rubles, compulsory labor for up to five years, or imprisonment for the same period is provided.

The concept of "genocide of the Soviet people" was established in Russia by the law of the same name, which will come into effect on January 1, 2026. According to it, genocide is recognized as "the actions of the Nazis and their accomplices during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 aimed at the complete or partial destruction of national, ethnic, and racial groups inhabiting the territory of the USSR."

Russia Provides Penalties for Comparing the USSR and Nazi Germany

In April 2022, Putin signed a law establishing administrative responsibility for "public identification" of the goals and actions of the USSR and Nazi Germany, as well as for denying the "decisive role" and "humanitarian mission" of the USSR in World War II.

Violators face fines ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 rubles or arrest for 15 days. For officials, the fine ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 rubles, and for legal entities, from 10,000 to 50,000. In case of repeated violations, fines for individuals will increase to 5,000, for officials to 20,000, and for legal entities to 100,000 rubles. In addition, officials may face disqualification for a period of six months to one year, and legal entities may face administrative suspension of activities for up to 90 days.