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Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially signed a new law enabling the confiscation of assets from individuals spreading “deliberately false information” about the military, targeting those accused of discrediting the government or engaging in “extremist activities.” This law, rapidly passed by Russia’s parliament, also addresses calls for actions deemed harmful to state security, expanding the scope of punishable offenses.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, defended the law, stating it is “absolutely” distinct from Soviet-era asset seizures and assured that concerns about its misuse are “groundless.”

Vyacheslav Volodin, the Duma Speaker, framed the law as a necessary action against “scoundrels and traitors… who have betrayed their homeland,” directly targeting critics of Russia’s military actions.

This legislative move builds on existing laws adopted after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which aimed to silence dissent by penalizing the “discreditation” of the military. The law has been a tool in the broader crackdown on free speech, leading to arrests, long jail sentences, and fines for those opposing the war.