Deputies submitted to the State Duma a bill that tightens criminal liability under sabotage articles. The bill is authored by 419 deputies — an absolute record for signatories.
The document introduces life sentences for involving minors in sabotage activities by analogy with "terrorist activities," and also lowers the age of responsibility to 14 years (currently 16 years). These proposals have already been supported by the Supreme Court and the Government of the Russian Federation, said Deputy Vasily Piskarev.
According to him, lowering the age of responsibility will have a "preventive nature," as "enemy special services are increasingly trying to involve schoolchildren in committing sabotage, convincing them that due to their young age, nothing will happen to them."
"Tightening punishment and expanding the list of persons subject to criminal liability is the main line in the fight against crime over the past 15 years. The authorities do not work on the causes of crime, they only raise the 'stakes.' Numerous studies have shown that this approach is populist but dead-end, provoking only an increase in crime. The possibility of imprisoning children in a colony for sabotage will only lead to an increase in the number of such cases," says lawyer of the "First Department"* Yevgeny Smirnov. He also added that now those who send links to Telegram channels of the corresponding orientation, provide contacts of Ukrainians, or speak positively about the desire to set fire or blow up something can fall under the "roller."
* Recognized in Russia as a "foreign agent."