Feelings are welcome!

The State Duma considered and adopted in the first reading the bill “On amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation in order to counter insult to religious beliefs and feelings of citizens, desecration of objects and objects of religious veneration (pilgrimage), places of religious rites and ceremonies.” 437 deputies voted in favor.

As expected earlier, the draft law, which received a lot of negative feedback (including a negative opinion from the Government and a critical reaction from President Putin), was adopted in the same form as it was submitted to the Duma. The authors of the bill propose to supplement Chapter 25 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (crimes against public health and public morality) with Article 243.1 (insulting religious beliefs and feelings of citizens or desecration of objects and objects of religious veneration (pilgrimage), places intended for religious rites and ceremonies).

According to the bill, for publicly insulting worship services, other religious rites and ceremonies, as well as insulting the religious beliefs and feelings of citizens, a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles or compulsory labor for up to 200 hours, or imprisonment for up to 3 years is provided.

For the desecration of objects and objects of religious veneration (pilgrimage), places intended for worship, other religious rites and ceremonies, as well as damage or destruction of such objects (places), it is proposed to punish with a fine of 100 thousand rubles to 500 thousand rubles or compulsory labor for a term of up to 400 hours, or imprisonment for a term of up to five years.

In addition, the bill provides for amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation and the Code of Administrative Offenses. Thus, for an administrative offense provided for in Article 5.26 (violation of legislation on freedom of conscience, freedom of religion and religious associations), fines in the amount of 10 to 30 thousand rubles can be applied to citizens, and fines from 50 to 100 thousand rubles to officials.

Major amendments and changes to the law are planned for the second reading. “Of course, there is a lot of work ahead for the second reading. During the preliminary discussion, we held a number of round tables, parliamentary hearings, and heard many comments and wishes from professional lawyers. Of course, these comments can be taken into account for the second reading - in the same way, a whole number of issues related to wording can be taken into account, there are issues that require clarification regarding the boundaries of responsibility,” explained Sergei Popov, Chairman of the Committee on Regulations and Organization of Work of the State Duma .

The main problem of the law is, Alexander Verkhovsky, director of the SOVA Information and Analytical Center, commented on the situation to New Times magazine, “that this draft was written by somewhat illiterate people, and it collected a sea of ​​​​negative responses, including from power structures. Like me I understand that if it is adopted in the first reading, they will rewrite it so that there is no separate article on insult to feelings in the Criminal Code, and its composition is dissolved in the already existing Article 148 of the Criminal Code. That is, the idea is to reduce the symbolic power of this project, but. so that, nevertheless, the wolves will also be fed and this will be included in the law. If in the end there is such a compromise, it will be very bad. Of course, they will cross out some extremes - for example, about insulting beliefs, which does not fit into any gates at all. But if insult to feelings remains, then, knowing the existing practice under Article 282 “I can say that borders will disappear altogether.”