Russian authorities plan to amend the Criminal Code by adding punishment for "Russophobia," defined as discrimination against Russian citizens and residents of the Russian Federation by foreigners and foreign officials abroad or calls for such actions.
The Interfax news agency reported on September 23 that it obtained a government document approving a draft law outlined by a group of lawmakers under which the trials of individuals charged with Russophobia can be held in absentia.
The Cabinet approved the draft but said the punishment for persons convicted of Russophobia should be revised.
The draft law says the punishment for Russophobia must be the "barring of convicted individuals from occupying certain posts and conducting certain activities in Russia."
However, the government said such a punishment does not make sense since it would affect individuals residing outside Russia.
The new article in the Criminal Code envisioning punishment for Russophobia will target only cases of Russophobia abroad. The document does not specify what is considered discrimination of Russian citizens and residents of the Russian Federation.
In recent years, especially after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian authorities have accused Western officials of what they called Russophobia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly cited what he has called "cancellation of the Russian culture" in the West.
Some Russian authorities, including the Foreign Ministry, have called Western sanctions imposed on Russian officials and entities over Moscow's full-scale aggression against Ukraine an "expression of Russophobia."
The term Russophobia was first introduced by Russian poet and diplomat Fyodor Tyutchev in the 19th century to describe pro-Western Russian liberals.
Timothy Snyder, Professor of History at Yale University, during his presentation at the UN Security Council in March 2023 described the term Russophobia as a tool used by modern Russia to justify its armed forces’ alleged war crimes in Ukraine.