Russian courts have seized the assets of four citizens charged with spreading “deliberately false information” about the Russian army, Pavel Chikov, head of the Agora human rights group, said.
He did not specify the names of the suspects, noting however that they are outside of Russia and that they have been placed on the wanted list. Chikov added that the courts had frozen the suspects’ bank accounts and seized their apartments and personal vehicles.
The attorney noted that the Russian law allows courts to seize assets of citizens if they are unable to pay out a fine. The “fake news” law introduces fines of 3 to 5 million rubles (€45,300 to €76,400).
On 4 March, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new law introducing criminal liability for spreading “fake news” about the Russian army and for “calling for anti-Russian sanctions.”
On 6 June, journalist and editor-in-chief of Agentura.ru news outlet Andrei Soldatov was added to the Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted list. Pavel Chikov suggested that Soldatov could have been charged under the “fake news” law.
Earlier today, Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky and Navalny ally Vladimir Milov were added to Russia’s wanted list as well “under an article of the Criminal Code.” It was not specified what they are accused of.
