Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that makes it a crime to justify or deny Nazi war crimes.
The law Putin signed on May 5 introduces punishment of up to five years in prison or a fine of some 500,000 rubles (some $14,000) for anyone found guilty of denying facts established by the Nuremberg trials regarding the crimes of Axis powers.
The law applies to those who show public approval of Nazi crimes, especially if they attempt to spread such claims in the media.
The law also punishes those who knowingly disseminate "false information about the Soviet activities" during World War II.
The signing of the law comes as Russia is drawing comparisons between Ukrainian nationalists and Nazi war crimes and ahead of the May 9 anniversary of the end of World War II.
The law Putin signed on May 5 introduces punishment of up to five years in prison or a fine of some 500,000 rubles (some $14,000) for anyone found guilty of denying facts established by the Nuremberg trials regarding the crimes of Axis powers.
The law applies to those who show public approval of Nazi crimes, especially if they attempt to spread such claims in the media.
The law also punishes those who knowingly disseminate "false information about the Soviet activities" during World War II.
The signing of the law comes as Russia is drawing comparisons between Ukrainian nationalists and Nazi war crimes and ahead of the May 9 anniversary of the end of World War II.