Original Russian-language document. Criminal Code (УК РФ), Ch. 29, Art. 280.4 (“Публичные призывы к осуществлению деятельности, направленной против безопасности государства”). Current redaction (introduced 2023). Retrieved 19 July 2026; verify wording against the official publication at pravo.gov.ru. Part of the TOT Insights collection of Russian federal security-law provisions used to police collaboration, information-sharing and dissent in the occupied territories.
Article 280.4, introduced in 2023, criminalises public calls to carry out activity directed against Russian security, or to obstruct the authorities’ security powers. It is a speech offence rather than a conduct offence: in the occupied territories it reaches pro-Ukrainian statements, calls for liberation and encouragement of resistance, especially online (use of the internet is an aggravating factor under part 2). Penalties run from a fine or 2–4 years up to 6–7 years for organised-group forms. It sits above the administrative discrediting charge (CoAP 20.3.3) as the criminal escalation, and is drafted as a residual offence, applying where the conduct is not already caught by the terrorism, separatism or rehabilitation-of-Nazism articles — useful for mapping how expression is policed on a graduated ladder from fine to imprisonment.
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Article 280.4 — Public Calls to Activity Directed Against State Security
1. Public calls to carry out activity directed against the security of the Russian Federation, or to obstruct the exercise by the authorities and their officials of their powers to ensure Russian security (in the absence of the elements of Articles 205.2, 280, 280.1, 280.3, 284.2 and 354), shall be punishable by a fine of 100,000 to 500,000 roubles (or the convicted person’s income for one to three years), or by deprivation of liberty for two to four years, with disqualification from certain offices or activity for up to three years or without it.
2. The same acts committed: (a) by a group by prior conspiracy; (b) by a person using their official position; (c) with the use of the mass media or electronic/telecommunications networks, including the internet; (d) out of mercenary motives or for hire; (e) on grounds of political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity — are punishable by a fine of 300,000 to 1,000,000 roubles, or deprivation of liberty for three to six years.
3. Acts under parts 1 or 2 committed by an organised group are punishable by deprivation of liberty for five to seven years.
Note. “Activity directed against the security of the Russian Federation” means the commission of at least one of the offences listed in the note to Article 104.1.
Relevance to coercion in the occupied territories
A speech offence rather than a conduct offence. It criminalises public calls to act against Russian security or to obstruct the authorities, which in the occupied territories reaches pro-Ukrainian statements, calls for liberation and encouragement of resistance, especially online (part 2 covers internet use as an aggravating factor). It sits above the administrative discrediting charge (CoAP 20.3.3) as the criminal escalation, and is drafted as a residual offence, applying where the conduct is not already caught by the terrorism, separatism or rehabilitation-of-Nazism articles. Useful for mapping how expression is policed on a graduated ladder from fine to imprisonment.