List of amendments to Criminal Code, including life imprisonment for high treason, introduced in Russian State Duma

A list of amendments to the Russian Criminal Code, life imprisonment for high treason among them, has been introduced in the State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s Parliament, Head of the State Duma Security and Anti-Corruption Committee Vasily Piskaryov says.

Currently, the punishment for high treason is from 12 to 20 years of imprisonment.

According to Piskaryov, the amendments also indicate a substantial increase in the upper and lower limits of liability when it comes to several crimes:

• It is suggested to raise the prison term for carrying out a “terrorist attack” to the maximum of 20 years (the current maximum is 15 years);

• The minimum punishment for “assisting in carrying out terrorist activities” could be raised to 7 years behind bars (currently it is 5 years). The minimum punishment for “complicity” is suggested to be increased from 10 to 12 years (the maximum term under this article is 20 years);

• It is proposed to establish the sentence being from 10 to 15 years of imprisonment for “organising a terrorist community and participating in one” (the punishment is currently from 5 to 10 years);

• The maximum punishment for “sabotage” to be raised up to 20 years of imprisonment (as opposed to the current 15 years);

• For committing an “act of international terrorism” the punishment would start from 12 years of imprisonment (currently the minimum punishment is 10 years behind bars).

Piskaryov claims that the amendments are supported by all factions represented in the State Duma Security and Anti-Corruption Committee.