Russophobia 'should be legally qualified by analogy with crimes against Jews', argues Duma member in support of criminalizing hatred of Russia
The concept of Russophobia was called for to be enshrined in law by analogy with anti-Semitism
May 12, 2023
Photo: Dmitry Ermakov / Lenta.ru
Inciting hatred against Russians as a nationality should be legally qualified by analogy with crimes against Jews. This was stated in an interview with Lenta.ru by the Deputy Chairman of the State DumaCommittee on Information Policy, a member of the Duma Commission on the Investigation of Foreign Intervention Oleg Matveychev .
“It seems that from a legal point of view it is very difficult to define the term “Russophobia”. However, most countries have found and introduced the term “anti-Semitism” into their legislation,” he explained.
We can act by analogy, and those legal norms that exist in relation to anti-Semitism - inciting hatred on ethnic grounds, for example - can be adopted legislatively in relation to crimes against Russians. Or, for example, to add new clauses on Russophobia to the articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation related to inciting hatred on ethnic grounds. You can go the European way
Matveychev also answered the question of what kind of acts could fall under the new possible legislative norm regarding Russophobia.
“Public actions, inciting hatred on a national basis, all these various uses like “Rusnya” - do you like such words? Also spreading fakes about Russians. I think you can add some qualifications. We will look at the practice of law enforcement,” the parliamentarian explained.
At the same time, he stressed that within the framework of this field, in most cases it is not worth bringing to criminal responsibility immediately.
“Our system usually implies that we do not immediately introduce criminal penalties, first administrative ones, and if they are violated again, they can turn into criminal ones - apparently, we will discuss this with fellow deputies,” the deputy explained.
Earlier, State Duma deputy Irina Yarovaya proposed introducing criminal penalties for the manifestation of Russophobia, as well as giving it a legislative interpretation as a misanthropic ideology.
“The establishment of criminal liability for Russophobia, the attribution of Russophobia to modern Nazism and a misanthropic ideology is a goal-setting aimed at maintaining peace and security,” RIA Novosti quotes Yarovaya.
In early April, the Liberal Democratic Party submitted a bill to parliament, which is designed to consolidate the concept of "Russophobia" and punishment for its manifestations. Member of the LDPR faction Andrei Lugovoy said that the initiative was approved by all members of the party and will be submitted to the Duma during the spring session.