March 19, 2019:

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed laws that penalize people for disrespecting state symbols and allow the blocking of media for publishing "fake news".

Moscow has imposed a fine of up to $23,000 (approximately ₹15.7 lakh) for a fake news violation and up to ₹2 crore in fines and 15 days of imprisonment for those who repeatedly insult state symbols.

The law states that violators risk jail time for "clear disrespect for society, the state, the official state symbols of the Russian Federation, the Constitution of the Russian Federation and bodies exercising state power."

The Presidential Human Rights Council had opposed the laws while they were being passed in Parliament and stressed that they could be used to repress critics of the administration.

Earlier in March, citizens protested Moscow's decision to establish a "sovereign internet" that would channel online traffic through domestic servers & exchanges.

Moscow, however, has refuted criticism against the laws.

"What is more, this sphere of fake news, insulting and so on, is regulated fairly harshly in many countries of the world including Europe. "It is therefore of course necessary to do it in our country too." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Over 100 public figures have signed a petition against the laws and described them as "direct censorship."

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