Defamation and insult a Russian citizen are no longer considered ordinary crimes, but the maximum penalty for insulting a senior official of the state has doubled from 6 months probation, a year, according to a law which came into force on 1 January , informs RIA Novosti.
Law signed on December 7 was described as progress made by President Dmitry Medvedev in an attempt to liberalize the Criminal Code.
After legislative reform, defamation and insult a Russian citizen with maximum fines are usually $ 1,600. Defamation and insult a legal entity with fines up to 16,000 dollars.
Under the new law, the maximum sentence for insulting a senior official of the state has doubled from 6 months probation, a year.
