The Russian Duma will vote on tougher penalties for treason and terrorism

8 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The Russian Duma, the Lower House of Parliament, will soon vote on the hardening of its Penal Code regarding the crimes of terrorism, sabotage and treason, asking for the latter life imprisonment.

“I hope that the proposed changes will be considered by the State Duma in the near future and supported by the deputies. Ensuring Russia’s security is our absolute priority,” said Duma deputy and chairman of the Security and Anti-Corruption Committee Vasily Piskarev, one of the promoters of the modification, on his Telegram channel.

Piskarev has ensured that these sentences will be served in “institutions with a special prison regime” and that those sentenced to life imprisonment will only be entitled to probation after 25 years in prison and if they show “exemplary behavior.”

The bill, approved by all parties represented in the Security and Anti-Corruption Committee, plans to increase sentences for acts of terrorism from 15 to 20 years, from 10 to 12 years for complicity in terrorist activities, to between 10 and 15 years. for participating in and organizing terrorist groups and 10 to 12 years for acts of international terrorism.

In addition, acts of sabotage such as damaging transport infrastructure, life support facilities and the health of the population with the aim of “undermining” economic and defensive security will be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison — previously being 15. from the country.

This proposal comes after the attack carried out last Sunday in a cafeteria in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg, which resulted in the death of blogger Vladlen Tatarski and more than 30 injured, and which the Russian authorities attribute to Ukraine and members of the Fund Navalni Anticorruption, created in 2011 by opponent Alexei Navalni.