Russia to Debate Seizing Property From Army Critics

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia will consider a bill next week that would confiscate the money, property and valuables of anyone convicted of spreading "fakes" about
its army, the country's top lawmaker said Saturday.Moscow made criticism of the military illegal shortly after launching its assault on
Ukraine in February 2022, and has detained thousands of the conflict's opponents since.The bill, which according to state media has the
support of all major parliamentary factions, will be introduced to Russia's lower house State Duma on Monday, speaker Vyacheslav Volodin
said."Anyone who tries to destroy Russia and betray her should receive the punishment they deserve, and compensate for the damage to the
country with their property," he wrote on Telegram.The measure, he said, aims to punish "scoundrels" who "pour mud on our country, soldiers
and officers serving in the special military operation."The charge of spreading "false information" about the army already carries a maximum
jail sentence of up to 15 years, and has been used by authorities to stifle any form of dissent.Under the law, information about the
offensive in Ukraine that does not come from an official government source can be deemed "false" and its dissemination liable to
prosecution.