Putin’s decree banning coverage of military casualties
Putin issues a presidential decree that extends a ban on coverage of military casualty figures to “peacetime, during special operations,” as well as in wartime. Such coverage, deemed to be disclosure of state secrets, is punishable by prison terms up to 20 years, according to local press reports.
Journalists who have tried to investigate reports of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine have been threatened and attacked, according to CPJ research. Critics say that today’s decree, which bans publishing military casualties during undefined “special operations” in peace time, could be interpreted as any military action. Disclosing such figures during wartime was already banned under Russian law.
Image: Alexander Ermochenko