A senior lawmaker announced on Saturday that Russia’s parliament will review a proposed legislation that would permit the seizure of funds, assets, and other belongings from individuals who are accused of intentionally disseminating false information about Moscow’s military operations.

Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the State Duma, stated in a recent update on Telegram that this regulation would be enforced on individuals who openly encourage “extremist activities” or advocate for sanctions against Russia, as well as those who discredit the armed forces. This is considered a criminal offense under a law passed as part of Moscow’s efforts to suppress dissent after their military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022.

Volodin stated that anyone who attempts to harm Russia or betrays the country will face appropriate consequences and be required to compensate for any damage caused, even if it means giving up their possessions. He also noted that according to the law, individuals who bring shame upon the military can lose any honorary recognitions they may hold.

According to Volodin, the bill will be presented to the Duma, which is Russia’s main legislative body, on Monday.

The current legislation prohibiting criticism of the Russian military, which includes acts such as defending terrorism and disseminating false information about the armed forces, is frequently utilized to suppress dissent against Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Numerous activists, bloggers, and ordinary citizens have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

Last month, Russian state media announced that Boris Akunin, a highly regarded novelist writing under a pseudonym, had been accused and included in the Russian list of “extremists and terrorists.” Dmitry Glukhovsky, another well-known author, was sentenced to eight years in prison in absentia by a Moscow court in August for intentionally disseminating false information about the Russian military.

Sasha Skochilenko, an artist and musician, was sentenced to seven years in prison by a court in St. Petersburg in November. This was due to his act of switching supermarket price tags with antiwar messages.

Last month, Aleksandr Nozdrinov, a blogger from Russia, was sentenced to 8 and a half years in prison for sharing images of demolished structures in Kyiv and insinuating that Russian soldiers were to blame.