The Duma decided to urgently introduce administrative responsibility for Russians for violating martial law.
For this purpose, an appropriate article (25.1.1) will be added to Administrative Offences Code. It provides a fine of 500 to 1 thousand rubles or arrest up to 30 days for citizens, and a fine of 1 thousand to 2 thousand rubles or a similar term of arrest for officials, the Vedomosti newspaper wrote with reference to the draft decision of the lower chamber of parliament.
According to the newspaper, the deputies will consider the amendments on June 14. They are included in the bill to clarify the procedure for detention of vehicles, which was adopted in the first reading on April 5, 2023.
“Martial law has not been introduced in our country for a very long time, 80 years, so it is simply necessary to reinforce these norms with responsibility. No responsibility was applied under this law and there were no special articles. Given the current realities, it is necessary to introduce appropriate sanctions”, explained the author of the amendments, Dmitry Vyatkin, a member of the State Construction and Legislation Committee of the State Duma.
According to him, the law will be effective in the regions where martial law is imposed – these are the Russian-occupied Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.
At the same time, the new restrictions may affect any territories where martial law can be declared in case of intensified military operations, lawyer Yurii Kapshtyk noted. He drew attention to the fact that the amendments give special powers to the military and employees of the Rosgvardia. In particular, to verify the identity, to maintain order, to deliver an offender or a suspect.
In the modern history of Russia, martial law regime has never been declared. Such a regime is introduced only in the presence of an external threat or aggression against the country. Invasion or attack by foreign troops, entry of armed groups, blockade of ports or coasts, and permission of another state to use its territory for attack are considered aggression.
Martial law is introduced by presidential decree, after which the Federation Council must approve the decision within 48 hours. The regime may be imposed either nationwide or in individual regions.
The Kremlin is not discussing introducing martial law throughout Russia, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said after the drone attack on Moscow. “No decisions have been made in this regard, and there are no discussions on this matter”, Peskov stressed.
