Russia seeks to “deter, silence” all criticism of war against Ukraine - British intel

British intelligence analysts have analyzed new Russian legislation designed to suppress criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine.

The British Ministry of Defense reported this on the X social network with reference to intelligence data, Ukrinform saw.

The review refers to the discussion by the Russian State Duma on January 22 of a draft law on the seizure of assets, including property of Russian nationals who openly criticize the Russian army and the so-called "special military operation" in Ukraine.

In recent months, a number of acclaimed Russian writers and artists have been sentenced for criticizing the Russo-Ukrainian war, analysts recalled.

Experts from the British Ministry of Defense also mentioned the amendments to the law on foreign agents (2012) signed off by Russian President Vladimir Putin in July 2022, which has been "widely used to repress opponents of the regime."

Intelligence noted that the new legislation is most likely intended to deter and silence anti-war opposition.

"This recent bill, in conjunction with the Foreign Agents measures, likely intends to restrict criticis, of the war altogether,” the report concludes.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on Monday, amendments to the Criminal Code were tabled in Russia’s State Duma, proposing to confiscate the property of citizens convicted for spreading fake news about the Russian army and related actions.