Duma wants to take tough action against "saboteurs" - Putin calls for faster rearmament

Created: 12/22/2022, 7:10 am

By: Franziska Schwarz

Photo from December 21: Gerasimov, Putin and Shoigu (from left) © Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin Pool/Imago

The penalties for "traitors" should be "as severe as possible," according to Moscow.

The news ticker on military events in the Ukraine war.

• Tougher penalties

  for

  "saboteurs"

  : Duma deputies vote for law

• Putin

  sees

  “no financial restrictions”

  : Kremlin boss calls for faster rearmament

• This

  news ticker

  on the military situation in the

  Ukraine war

  is constantly updated.

MOSCOW - There have been a number of incidents in recent months, including explosions at key military bases and infrastructure facilities.

Moscow blames Ukraine for this.

Tougher penalties for "saboteurs": Duma deputies vote for law

The Russian lower house has now passed tougher penalties for "saboteurs".

A corresponding law had been passed by the deputies, the Duma announced on Wednesday (December 21).

The law provides for up to life imprisonment for domestic and foreign "saboteurs".

The new law should "protect our country and our citizens from threats of terrorism and sabotage," the Duma said.

Its chairman Vyacheslav Volodin also referred to the ongoing "special military operation" in Ukraine, as the Russian attack on the neighboring country is officially called in Russia.

The penalties for "saboteurs" should be "as severe as possible," he demanded.

The new law now has to be passed by the upper house and signed by President Vladimir Putin.

Putin sees "no financial restrictions": Kremlin chief calls for faster rearmament

At an extended meeting of the Defense Ministry, Kremlin chief Putin also called for more speed in the upgrading and modernization of the armed forces.

There are "no financial restrictions" on further upgrading of the army, Putin said.

Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also proposed increasing the force by around 350,000 soldiers to 1.5 million men.

He also called for new units to be set up in north-west Russia on the border with potential new NATO states Sweden and Finland.