Russian Countersanctions: Bill Introduced to Criminalize Dissemination of Information That May Result in Introduction or Expansion of Sanctions Against Russian Persons

On May 15, 2019, a bill was introduced to the Russian State Duma proposing amendments to Federal Law 127 “On Actions to Influence (Counter) Unfriendly Actions of the United States of America and Other Foreign Governments” and the Criminal Code to prohibit the “uncontrolled transfer of information to foreign counterparties” in favor of “measured presentation of necessary and unharmful information.”

The bill, if passed in its current form, would prohibit the public dissemination by means of mass media and data telecommunications networks, as well as the transfer and disclosure to (i) organizations organized under the laws of an unfriendly state, (ii) organizations directly or indirectly under the control of an unfriendly state or a citizen of an unfriendly state affiliated with such organizations, of information that:

• Evidences non-compliance with sanctions by organizations or individuals subject to sanctions imposed by foreign governments, unions of foreign governments and/or multinational organizations, or
• Facilitates the introduction of sanctions by foreign governments, unions of foreign governments and/or multinational organizations