MOSCOW, March 31 (RAPSI) – Amendments to the Code on Administrative Offenses stipulating penalties for breaching quarantine, other sanitary and epieniological rules and distribution of life-threatening consequences fake news were adopted by the State Duma in the second and third readings on Tuesday.
Thus, the document introduces fines from 15,000 to 40,000 rubles for individuals, from 50,000 to 150,000 rubles or suspension of activity for up to 90 days for officials doing business without company formation, from 200,000 to 500,000 rubles ($2,500 - 6,400) or suspension of activity for up to 90 days for companies violating sanitary rules and hygienic regulations, failing to fulfil sanitary, hygienic and anti-epidemic steps during emergencies or mass decease outbreaks, threat of their appearance or quarantine period.
Such violations resulted in death or health harm, if they do not contain acts punishable under criminal law, would result in fines raging from 150,000 to 300,000 rubles for individuals, from 300,000 to 500,000 rubles or administrative suspension of business activity for up to 90 days for officials and from 500,000 to 1 million rubles ($6,400 – 12,800) or administrative suspension of business activity for up to 90 days for legal entities.
Penalties for fake news
The bill envisages administrative fines for distribution of fake news about epidemics. Legal entities would face fines varying from 1.5 to 3 million rubles for such violations. If a publication leads to a person’s death, health or property damage, mass breachs of public order, fines for them would reach from 3 to 5 million rubles ($38,000 – 64,000).
Violations causing stops to the operation of critical and social infrastructure, transport, credit organizations, energy, communications and industry facilities would result in fines from 300,000 to 400,000 rubles for individuals, from 600,000 to 900,000 rubles for officials and from 5 to 10 million rubles ($64,000 – 130,000) for legal entities.
Earlier on Tuesday, the State Duma adopted a bill on criminal punishment of up to 7 years in prison for violating sanitary and epieniological rules and distribution of life-threatening consequences fake news.
