Press Release, 15.04.2020

Policemen came to Alexei Sadomovsky, Deputy Chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of Yabloko. The policemen tried to give a warning about the inadmissibility of dissemination of fake information. Earlier, Alexei Sadomovsky published a post on social networks about how a girl was infected with a coronavirus in a hospital. On the advice of a lawyer, Sadomovsky refused to sign a warning, and also refused to give an explanation, referring to article 51 of the Constitution (“No one shall be obliged to give evidence incriminating themselves”).

“They tried to scare me with large fines, I told them that he was ready to suffer for the truth. If the publicity contributes to a more responsible attitude towards patients, saves at least one life, fines do not scare me. However, the fact that they began to move, but in some strange direction, is frightening. Instead of establishing quality work in medical institutions, they are fighting against information,” Alexei Sadomovsky said.

“I asked if they checked the information from the post themselves. Not yet, they said. They do not let them into the hospital. I wonder why they then considered the information fake, without even trying to verify it?”  Sadomovsky noted.

It should be noted that on 1 April, the President of Russia signed a law on criminal liability for the distribution of fake news about emergency situations and for violation of sanitary and epidemiological rules. The law was developed in connection with the situation caused by the spread of coronavirus.

The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation was supplemented by a new article 207.1 on the introduction of punishment for public dissemination of knowingly false information about circumstances that pose a threat to the life and safety of citizens or about measures taken to ensure the safety of the population and territories, and methods of protection against these circumstances.

This is punishable by a fine in the amount from 300,000 to 700,000 roubles, or in the amount of the convict’s wages or other income for a period from 12 to 18 months, or by compulsory work for up to 360 hours, or correctional labour for up to one year, or restriction of freedom for up to three years.