By Burc Eruygur
ISTANBUL (AA) – Russian lawmakers on Monday submitted a bill to the State Duma, the country’s lower house of parliament, to seize the property of those who “discredit” the military.
“The State Duma has introduced amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes on the confiscation of property for public calls for activities directed against the security of the state, for discrediting the army and a number of other articles,” said a statement issued by the State Duma.
The statement noted that the bill was co-authored by multiple deputies of the parliament, including Vyacheslav Volodin, the head of the Russian State Duma.
Earlier on Saturday, Volodin wrote on Telegram that the bill would be submitted to the State Duma on Monday, saying that it would allow the confiscation of money, valuables, or other property “used or intended to finance criminal activities” against Russia’s security.
He added that confiscation of property will be possible in cases such as the “dissemination of deliberately false information” about the Russian Armed Forces, as well as public calls for "extremist activities" and actions aimed at "violating Russia’s integrity" and discrediting its military.
He mentioned cases such as public calls for activities directed against the security of the state, calls for the introduction of sanctions against Russia and its citizens, and assisting in the execution of decisions of international organizations in which Russia does not participate, or foreign government bodies.
“Anyone who tries to destroy Russia, betrays it, must suffer a well-deserved punishment and compensate for the damage caused to the country at the expense of their property,” he warned.