Vladimir Putin has signed several new decrees, published on a government law website.
- Russia’s president has allowed several categories of citizens, such as officials deployed to the occupied regions of Ukraine, servicemen, and law enforcers engaged in the Ukraine War not to declare their income. Media will be banned from publishing such information.
- Setting up sabotage has become punishable up to a life term in prison now. Three new articles have been added to Russia’s Criminal Code: “assisting sabotage”, “undergoing training in order to commit sabotage”, and “setting up a sabotage community and being part of it”. Being part of such a society is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, while the rest of the felonies are punishable by up to a life term.
- Putin has also declared compensation payouts for injuries or deaths of civilians sent on missions to the occupied territories. Relatives of the deceased will be receiving a one-time payout of 5 million rubles [€63,000] while the injured will be receiving 3 million [€37.700].
- Another decree touches upon college education. From now on, at least 10% of state-funded student positions in universities will be reserved for the children of servicemen who participated in the Ukraine War. This quota will also be applied to children of Heroes of Russia and children of those in possession of three Orders of Courage.
- Finally, one more decree has declared St George’s band, the controversial black and orange striped symbol, a Symbol of Military Glory. From now on, “defacing” this symbol will become punishable by up to five years in prison.
