Want to insult Putin online? It will cost you US$462: opinion

On average, it costs Russians 30,000 rubles (RM1,935 or US$462) to revile the president online. — Kremlin/Reuters

Six months ago, Russia adopted a law making it an administrative offense to insult the government on the Internet. The first results of its application are in, and in a majority of the cases where a court imposed a fine, Russians have been punished for insulting President Vladimir Putin.

Instead of sheltering Putin and other top officials from harsh and vulgar criticism, however, the use of the Russian lèse majesté law -the first one adopted since the Soviet Union fell apart – has resulted in a bizarre price list of insults. On average, it costs 30,000 rubles (RM1,935 or US$462) to revile the president.