On Wednesday, Russian lawmakers adopted a new law that provides for harsh prison terms for “saboteurs,” underscoring the emergence of terrorist threats, including from foreign nationals, amid the conflict in Ukraine, AFP reported.

Russian authorities have passed several laws this year to counter any perceived national threat against the intervention launched nearly 10 months ago in Ukraine.

In a statement of the lower house of the Russian parliament, it was reported that the deputies adopted in the third, final reading a set of measures aimed at “protecting the country and our citizens from terrorist threats and sabotage.”

“The Russian Federation is carrying out a special operation, while accepting refugees and remains open for the entry and exit of foreign citizens” on its territory, State Duma President Vyacheslav Volodin said, quoted in a press release. . “The punishment for saboteurs will be as severe as possible,” Volodin added.

The law, which still needs to be approved by the upper house of parliament and then signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, provides life imprisonment for participating in subversive activities, financing them or recruiting others to participate in them.

Anyone who joins a “subversive group” faces up to ten years in prison, while those found involved in acts of terrorism or sabotage face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

In recent months, Russia has been the victim of a series of incidents, especially explosions at military bases and important infrastructure facilities, attacks that Moscow attributes to Ukraine.

Russia continues to call the invasion of Ukraine at the end of February a “special military operation”. (Agerpress)