Russian lawmakers draft bill to increase prison terms for online calls to unrest
Two United Russia deputies have prepared legislation that would raise penalties for public calls to terrorism and mass unrest, including up to six years in prison for online incitement.
Vasily Piskarev and Eduard Valeyev, members of the State Duma from United Russia, have drafted a bill aimed at strengthening penalties for public encouragement of terrorism and mass unrest. The draft would increase the maximum duration of court-ordered movement restrictions from two to three years and raise the top sentence for forced labor or imprisonment from two to four years for mass-unrest calls, with online incitement punishable by up to six years in prison.
For terrorism-related calls, the bill introduces a two-year minimum and a six-year maximum, plus a ban on holding certain offices or engaging in specific activities. Government officials have backed the proposal, according to a cabinet assessment, but the timing of its submission to the State Duma remains unclear. OVD-Info reports that charges under Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code were the most common in political prosecutions in 2025, following a rise from 2024.
Why it matters
The bill could significantly expand criminal penalties for online speech, affecting political dissent in Russia.
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