New Russian Parliament Bill Would Make Holocaust Denial Illegal
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by JNS.org
Israeli Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau visits the grave of Feodore Mikhailichenko, his non-Jewish savior during the Holocaust, in Rostov, Russia. Photo: Lubavitch.com.
JNS.org – Russian legislators have given initial approval to a bill against the “rehabilitations of Nazism” that will punish historians for denying Nazi crimes, including the Holocaust, Voice of Russia reported.
“Our country has not simply defended itself. We have defended the whole world from Nazism. Our people suffered the greatest casualties in this war. For us, the rehabilitation of Nazism will always be a crime against our country and our people,” said the head of Russia’s Lower House Committee for Security, Irina Yarovaya, one of the bill’s main sponsors.
If the bill passes, those convicted could face fines of up to 300,000 rubles ($8,300) or prison terms of up to three years. Those fines and prison terms increase for public officials or members of the media.
While the bill was first proposed several years ago, recent events in Ukraine led by anti-Russian protestors and the new government there, which Russian state propaganda has labeled as “fascists,” has caused renewed interest in this type of legislation.
