Putin wants to muzzle tourists American justice charges Indian with attempted murder of Sikh activist

Putin’s propaganda apparatus explains to the Russian people in the media every day how they should view the current situation. Commentators oppose the West and sometimes find absurd reasons why Ukraine should be liberated. Anyone who criticizes the state’s opinion will be summoned at best and thrown in jail at worst.

Now Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin also wants to align tourists visiting his country. Anyone traveling to Russia must sign a declaration. This agreement must include a promise not to criticize Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

State news agency Tass reports that a corresponding draft has been prepared by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The aim is to oblige foreigners to follow strict rules on expressing opinions – including when it comes to the rights of LGBTQ groups.

Foreigners coming to Russia would have to sign upon entering Russia that they accept the ban on criticism.

The State Duma still has to approve the aliens regulation

Foreigners are therefore legally obliged to refrain from promoting “non-traditional sexual relations” or “falsifying the historical truth about the achievements of the Soviet people in the defense of their homeland” and “playing their contribution to the victory over the fascism’. in the draft regulation.

The proposal will soon be submitted to the Duma, the Russian parliament. It is still unclear what the fine will be for violating the agreement. However, because it is related to entry, at least one deportation is likely.

According to the FSB security service, Russia received 187,000 more tourists in the first six months of the year than the year before. Most come from China, followed by Turkey, Germany and Turkmenistan. According to the data service Statista, 8.2 million tourists came to Russia in 2022. Nevertheless, the figures are well below pre-Covid pandemic figures. In 2019, 24 million visitors were counted. It is unlikely that the war and stricter laws will make the situation easier for Russia’s tourism industry.

Any criticism of Russia’s war of aggression in Russia will be severely punished. The rules were tightened again in March, when negative statements against Russian forces – including mercenary groups – were made punishable, the Tagesschau reported. It was also forbidden to speak publicly about the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine and Russian war crimes.

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