'Vedomosti', citing a source close to the government, reported that these amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses are being prepared for submission to the State Duma after approval by the government commission on legislative proposals.
Currently, the punishment under this administrative article is limited to a fine of up to two thousand rubles or administrative arrest for up to 15 days. The Ministry of Justice proposes to stipulate in the law the possibility of assigning up to 100 hours of mandatory work.
According to the publication, in 2023, the number of those found guilty under the article on the demonstration of 'prohibited symbols' almost doubled compared to 2019, from 2388 to 5163 cases. In most cases, people were fined.
At the same time, the share of collected and paid fines decreased, and the introduction of a new punishment is expected to 'increase the effectiveness of counteraction'.
The types of mandatory work for offenders are determined by local government bodies. They are assigned during free time from main work, study, or service. By law, people cannot work more than four hours a day.
Protocols on the demonstration of 'Nazi' and 'extremist' symbols against Russians are drawn up, including for pictures and videos on social networks with swastikas, rainbow flags, and the Ukrainian trident.
In Moscow, over the past three months, two people were placed under administrative arrest for a pendant and a T-shirt with a trident, and the court also ordered the confiscation and destruction of the items with the image.
People are also fined for images of Facebook* and Instagram* logos and images of rainbow flags. In February, a resident of Nizhny Novgorod was sentenced to five days of arrest for earrings in the form of frogs in rainbow colors.
In Moscow and Murmansk, activists were arrested for a photograph of Alexei Navalny** and a scarf with his name.
In September, the court considered 24 protocols in one day against a Muscovite for 'demonstrating Nazi symbols' and sentenced him to 10 days of arrest.
* Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, is recognized in Russia as an 'extremist' organization.
** Included in the list of 'extremists and terrorists'.