MOSCOW, July 12 – RAPSI. The State Duma will remove imprisonment from the list of punishments provided by the draft law on Introducing a Criminal Penalties for Libel, head of the State Duma legislation committee Pavel Krasheninnikov told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

The draft law on Introducing Criminal Penalties for Libel was adopted by the State Duma in the first reading on Wednesday, July 11, and it is expected to be considered during the second and third readings through the end of the week.

“The draft law will be significantly amended, but its basis will remain unchanged. Imprisonment terms will be removed from the wording,” Krasheninnikov said.

The head of the State Duma committee said that 5 million rubles ($152,870) will be the maximum fine.

President Vladimir Putin had said earlier that the article on libel must be returned to the Criminal Code, but without any provisions for imprisonment.

Currently, the Code of Administrative Violations stipulates fines of between 2,000 and 3,000 rubles ($61.14 - $91.57) for citizens who infringe upon the honor and dignity of another.