OREANDA-NEWS  The State Duma adopted in the second and third readings a law that increases administrative penalties for concealment and distortion of environmental information.

The document (No. 410399-8) was submitted to Parliament by a group of deputies in July 2023.

Amendments are made to Article 8.5 of the Administrative Code.

Concealment, intentional distortion or untimely communication of information about the state of the environment, about sources of pollution of natural resources, about the radiation situation, about the implementation of environmental protection measures may entail a fine for citizens in the amount of 1 thousand to 3 thousand rubles. (now from 500 rubles to 1 thousand rubles); for officials from 10 thousand to 30 thousand rubles. (now from 3 thousand to 6 thousand rubles); for companies from 50 thousand to 200 thousand rubles. (now from 20 thousand to 80 thousand rubles.).

Administrative fines are being imposed for repeated violations of this article. For citizens, the fine can range from 3 thousand to 5 thousand rubles, for officials from 30 thousand to 50 thousand rubles, or disqualification for a period of one to three years; for legal entities – from 200 thousand to 300 thousand rubles.

"The proposed changes will bring the size of administrative fines in line with other penalties provided for by the Administrative Code for administrative offenses in the field of environmental protection," the explanatory note says.

The law will enter into force 10 days after its official publication.