The State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, approved a law Wednesday that imposes severe penalties for slanderous speech on the internet.

The legislation provides for punishment of up to two years in prison for those found guilty of spreading slander through the internet. It defines slander as “the dissemination of knowingly false information discrediting the honor and dignity of another person or undermining his reputation.” Slander committed by someone using their official position could face up to three years’ imprisonment, while those making slanderous accusations of someone having a contagious disease could be put in prison for up to four years, and someone slandering another by accusing them of rape or other serious crimes could be subject to up to five years of imprisonment. The current criminal code only mandates fines and community service for those found guilty of slander.

Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of the Kremlin who was allegedly poisoned by it, tweeted that the new law would need to be used against Russian authorities, including President Vladimir Putin, who had reported victory over COVID-19 during the summer just before a surge in infections.

The bill still needs the approval of the Federation Council, the Russian upper house of parliament, and then needs to be signed by Putin before it becomes law.