On May 9, 2014, a new law takes effect in the Russian Federation that criminalizes public calls for violating the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, reports Ukrainska Pravda on March 24.

This law, which was approved in Russia late last year, would also include discussions on the status of Crimea since Russia now considers Crimea part of its territory.

The Federal Law of the Russian Federation No 433-FZ was passed by the State Duma of the Russian Federation on December 20, 2013, approved by the Federation Council on December 25, and signed by Russia’s president on December 28. It comes into force on May 9, 2014.

The law in the Criminal Code includes, as an amendment, Article 2801 on “Public calls to actions aimed at violating the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation.”

Such calls dealing with “territorial integrity” will be punishable by fines of up to 300,000 rubles, or an amount equal to the wages or other income of the convicted person for a period up to 2 years, or by compulsory work equal to up to 300 hours, or by imprisonment for up to 3 years.

http://euromaidanpr.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/discussions-on-crimeas-status-become-illegal/