The State Duma passed a bill in two readings that introduces fines for searching for «extremist content» and accessing it via VPN. Violators face administrative fines ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles ($ 38-$ 63). The definition of «extremist materials» in the law is vague, encompassing materials listed by Roskomnadzor (over 5,000 items) as well as publications that law enforcement or courts may interpret as inciting national, religious, or social discord, calling for the overthrow of the government, or spreading «fake news about the army.» Like many legislative initiatives that could provoke public outrage, these new measures were embedded in amendments to a bill on freight forwarders already passed in its first reading. This tactic is used by the Kremlin to conceal potentially contentious documents and shorten their discussion period. The government is the formal author of the amendments, but in reality, they likely originated from the Kremlin.
The attempt to disguise the amendments failed as the media quickly reported on them. Criticism came from systemic pro-government figures like Russia Today’s editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan and politician Ekaterina Mizulina, who compiles complaints against websites as well cultural figures, and commercials companies. In the Duma, opposition to the amendments came not only from the «New People» faction, which is permitted to criticize overly repressive measures to maintain its image as systemic liberals, but also from the ultra-patriotic «Just Russia» party.
Russian authorities are beginning the «criminalization of reading» of undesirable content. For now, the focus is on searches, which are difficult to prove, requiring access to a suspect’s device or data from an internet provider. Fines remain minor, and repeat offenses do not lead to harsher penalties or reclassification as criminal cases.
Criticism from systemic opposition («New People,» «Just Russia») and Simonyan suggests that the political bloc led by Sergei Kiriyenko, which the parties are aligned with, and the Kremlin’s information bloc under Alexei Gromov, closely tied to RT’s editor-in-chief, are not enthusiastic about this initiative. Without their supervisors’ approval, neither Simonyan nor the parties would have publicly criticized a Kremlin-backed proposal. For instance, «New People» did not oppose the new version of the local self-government law, promoted by the political bloc, despite its contradiction to their platform.
The initiative likely came from security agencies and the Security Council, also part of the Kremlin. Criminalizing reading complicates the work of civilian political administrators and the information bloc. The vague criteria for «extremist content» may deter Russians from accessing news websites and Telegram channels, even those loyal to the government, out of fear of punishment. Citizens are familiar with how Russian law enforcement operates: if a law provides for violations, «violators» will be found. As a result, people may avoid «dangerous» internet segments. However, the internet has long surpassed television in popularity and is actively used by the Kremlin’s political and information blocs. This initiative will likely hinder their efforts and increase societal anxiety, which affects the government’s overall approval ratings. Unable to openly express dissatisfaction, Kiriyenko and Gromov act through controlled parties and state media editors.
The bill’s authors are not backing down. The Duma supports the legislation, and soon, the first fines for searching «extremist content» may be issued. After testing this «light version» in practice, the law could be tightened. The Kremlin has historically struggled to stop expanding censorship of the information space. For example, the foreign agent law was initially milder but now easily leads to criminal charges, even for those complying with its rules, and designated foreign agents are barred from selling property or earning income in Russia. The conditions for criminalizing reading may also evolve. In Belarus, reading «extremist» media and Telegram channels is already criminalized, and the authors of these amendments likely draw inspiration from this model.
Tariff for Putin
The rise in utility tariffs has led to a decline in the Russian government’s approval ratings. According to the Public Opinion Foundation, the percentage of respondents rating the president’s performance as good dropped from 83% in late June to 79% in mid-July. Trust in Putin fell from 82% to 78%. The share of citizens who believe the government is performing well decreased from 57% in late June to 51% in mid-July. Utility tariff hikes were announced on July 1, with an average increase of 11.9% across Russia, reaching nearly 20% in some regions.
Authorities attempted to justify the increase by citing the need to update infrastructure, but the ratings drop indicates that citizens were not convinced. Similar declines in Putin’s and the government’s popularity occurred last August after the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ incursion into the Kursk region, when trust ratings fell to 76%. The current decline may continue. In August-September, a traditional «inflationary» drop in the government’s popularity occurs as citizens prepare children for school, compare current prices to last year’s, and notice significant increases, blaming the leadership. According to a Levada Center poll, 58% of citizens consider rising prices the main problem facing Russian society. Utility payments are a sensitive issue for most Russian families, and tariff hikes are felt even more acutely amid general price increases. Dissatisfaction with tariffs may grow stronger closer to winter, when heating—one of the most expensive utility services—is added to bills. This will combine with broader discontent over inflation.
The sensitivity of the government’s ratings to price increases suggests that the war has become routine for Russians. On one hand, this benefits the authorities, as continued military actions do not provoke sharp discontent. On the other hand, the Kremlin is losing its «war immunity»: the shock of the war for some and patriotic fervor for others no longer distract from everyday problems. The president, rather than abstract officials or deputies, is increasingly blamed for these issues. The country’s leadership cannot stabilize this situation. Budget problems tied to the war are being addressed at citizens’ expense by reducing tax benefits, cracking down on informal employment, and targeting undeclared income. Previously, the state turned a blind eye to the «gray sector» and even minimized taxes for the self-employed. Amid rising prices and tariffs,
