Russia is gearing up for criminalizing bitcoin use in the country. The country’s anti-bitcoin stance has been once again stated by Russian Presidential Advisor on the Internet, German Klimenko.

Speaking to a Russian News Service, Klimenko calls the reports about bitcoin being legalized in other countries “a fiction”.

The statement was made as part of the response to a question on parliamentarian Dmitry Marinichev who said that banning cryptocurrencies could be the worst thing that could be done.

Klimenko not only expressed his disagreement with Marinichev, but went on to say that all the reports from across the world about bitcoin being officially accepted as a mean of payment are not true, Coinfox reported. He also criticized bitcoin users and developers saying:

“Excuse me, but the cryptocurrency is an illegal means of payment in all countries of the world. As of now, all legends that it has been allowed anywhere are but a fiction. We must give their due to those who created bitcoin and who coined the term “cryptocurrency”, a meme-virus going straight into the head,” Coinfox translated Klimenko’s statement. 

This is not the first time that Klimenko has voiced his pessimistic opinion on cryptocurrencies. Speaking to Lenta.ru, he said last month that accepting bitcoin as a payment for anything is a crime, adding that any introduction of an “outside currency” is always a blow on economy.

Russia has been in the process of introducing stricter bitcoin and digital currency regulation. Russian Deputy Minister of Finance recently confirmed that the draft law criminalizing circulation of bitcoin in the country will be passed to the State Duma during the current session.