Vladimir Putin announces new online censorship laws as he visits Crimea

Putin signs new law BANNING ‘fake news and ‘insulting the state’ with jail as punishment

  • New laws punish people who show ‘blatant disrespect’ for Russian state online
  • Experts say the legislation could create a new mechanism for state censorship
  • New laws came same day as President Vladimir Putin attended a rally in Crimea
  • The raucous rally marked the fifth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea  

President Vladimir Putin has signed into law tough new fines for Russians who spread what the authorities regard as fake news or who show ‘blatant disrespect’ for the state online, an official portal for legal information showed on Monday.

Critics have warned that the legislation could create a mechanism for state censorship, but lawmakers say the new measures are needed to combat false news reports and abusive online comments.

The legislation grants authorities the power to block websites if they fail to comply with requests to remove information that the state deems to be factually inaccurate.

New censorship laws came on the same day that President Vladimir Putin visited Crimea

The president was joined on stage by a number of Russian and Crimean officials to celebrate the anniversary of the peninsula's annexation

The president was joined on stage by a number of Russian and Crimean officials to celebrate the anniversary of the peninsula’s annexation

Under the new law, individuals can be fined up to 400,000 roubles ($6,100) for circulating false information online that leads to a ‘mass violation of public order.’

People who show ‘blatant disrespect’ online for the state, the authorities, the public, the Russian flag or the constitution can be fined up to 100,000 roubles under the new legislation. Repeat offenders can be jailed for up to 15 days. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth; editing by Andrew Osborn)

The new laws came on the same day as Mr Putin visited Crimea to mark the fifth anniversary of the peninsula’s annexation from Ukraine.

Mr Putin was joined on stage by Crimean prime minister Sergei Aksyonov (pictured left) at the event

Mr Putin was joined on stage by Crimean prime minister Sergei Aksyonov (pictured left) at the event

The president led thousands to chant ‘Russia’ at the event, as Nato and the European Union again strongly condemned the land grab by Russia.

Speaking at an outdoor concert in Crimea’s regional capital of Simferopol, the Russian president hailed Crimea’s residents, likening them to the Red Army soldiers of the Second World War.

‘Russia has taken you into its fold with delight and joy,’ he told the crowd. ‘We will fulfil all of our goals … because we are together now.’

He began his trip by attending the launch of new power plants in Crimea, part of Moscow’s efforts to upgrade the region’s infrastructure.

Thousands of people waited in the cold to get a glimpse of Mr Putin on Monday. They chanted 'Russia' along with him

Thousands of people waited in the cold to get a glimpse of Mr Putin on Monday. They chanted ‘Russia’ along with him

Ukraine has cut off energy supplies to the peninsula and blocked shipments of Crimea-bound cargo via its territory after Moscow annexed the region in 2014.

‘The situation has changed radically,’ Mr Putin said, adding that the new power facilities will fully cover Crimea’s energy needs.

Russia’s modernisation effort for Crimea has included building an 11.8-mile bridge that opened last year across the Kerch Strait, which links the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

The Russian president also visited the Malakhov Kurgan military memorial complex in Sevastopol, Crimea on Monday

The Russian president also visited the Malakhov Kurgan military memorial complex in Sevastopol, Crimea on Monday

Mr Putin meets military veterans at the the Malakhov Kurgan military memorial complex in Crimea

Mr Putin meets military veterans at the the Malakhov Kurgan military memorial complex in Crimea

The 3.6 billion dollar (£2.7 billion) project gave Crimea a land link to Russia. Previously, a ferry crossing that was often interrupted by gales served as the only connection.

Mr Putin claims Russia ‘re-integrated’ Crimea after the removal of Ukraine’s former pro-Russian president in 2014 to protect ethnic Russians who made up the majority of Crimea’s population from Ukrainian nationalists.

The Kremlin was also worried that a new Ukrainian government could annul Russia’s lease on its key Black Sea navy base in Crimea and welcome Nato there instead.

The Kerch Strait bridge connects the Sea of Asov and the Black Sea. It was opened in 2018

The Kerch Strait bridge connects the Sea of Asov and the Black Sea. It was opened in 2018

The Russian leader has said he put Russia’s nuclear forces on combat readiness during the 2014 developments in Crimea and warned his Western counterparts that Moscow was ready to defend what it considered its land.

The annexation gave Russia hundreds of miles of coastline along the Black Sea, a near-stranglehold on commerce in the Sea of Azov and access to vast potential energy riches on the Black Sea shelf.

 

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