The State Duma introduced compulsory service in the FSB and punishments for “fakes” about the Russian Guard

Deputies of the State Duma adopted a bill introducing criminal liability for the distribution of “fakes” about Russian Guard employees participating in Russia’s war with Ukraine.

According to the document, amendments are made to articles 207.3 of the Criminal Code (on military “fakes”) and 280.3 of the Criminal Code (on repeated “discrediting” of military personnel), adopted in 2022 after the start of a full-scale invasion.

In addition, they plan to add a mention of Rosgvardiya employees to Article 284.3 of the Criminal Code (on “assistance in the execution of decisions” of the International Criminal Court and other instances in which Russia does not participate). The maximum punishment under the above-mentioned articles varies from 5 to 15 years of imprisonment.

Also, today the State Duma allowed Russians to be called up for emergency service in the FSB, and the Russian Guard to create its own volunteer formations that can be used to participate in the war against Ukraine.

• The law allowing the Russian Guard to create volunteer formations was adopted on December 7 in the second reading. In its first reading, it was adopted on October 17, and only the Russian Guard was mentioned in it. According to the draft law, the agency will be able to create volunteer formations on behalf of the country’s president. The deputies explained such an initiative by the fact that Russian Guard soldiers are participating in the war against Ukraine and are performing tasks there that are “similar to the functionality of the Ministry of Defense.”