Russian lawmakers approve bill to confiscate assets of people who ‘discredit’ the army

MOSCOW (AP) — The lower house of Russia’s parliament has approved a bill that would allow the confiscation of money, valuables and other assets from those convicted on charges of spreading “deliberately false information” about the country’s military. It’s expected to quickly sail through the upper house and be signed by President Vladimir Putin. Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has said that the law would apply to people convicted of publicly inciting “extremist activities” or “discrediting” the armed forces, both criminal offenses under a law adopted as part of a sweeping government crackdown on dissent after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. The proposed law does not appear to include real estate among the assets that can be seized.