The State Duma is ready to make insulting their feelings a crime

The State Duma adopted in the second reading amendments to the Criminal Code (CC) and the Code of Administrative Offenses (CAO), according to which “insulting the religious feelings of believers” will be considered a crime (up to three years in prison), and “desecration of objects of religious veneration” - an offense ( fine up to 200 thousand rubles). At the morning meeting of the Duma, the amendments were criticized by the communists, who fear that even the fairy tale “About the Priest and His Worker Balda” could offend believers.

Photo: Daniil Ivanov, Kommersant / buy photo

Now Art. 148 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is laconic: it prescribes punishment (for example, a fine of up to 80 thousand rubles or arrest of up to three months) for “illegal obstruction of the activities of religious organizations or the performance of religious rituals.” And “insulting the religious feelings of citizens or desecration of objects, signs and emblems of worldview symbols revered by them” is now not considered a crime at all: according to Art. 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Offences, this can only result in a fine of 500 to 1000 rubles.

After the performance of the punk group Pussy Riot in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in February 2012 (the group members were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred), deputies decided to radically change the approach to punishment for anti-clerical actions. According to the bill, which was submitted for second reading today (signed by representatives of all four Duma factions), “public actions expressing clear disrespect for society and committed with the aim of insulting the religious feelings of believers” should be considered a crime. Moreover, the punishment should be tougher: it is proposed to punish this with a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles. or even imprisonment for up to one year. And for “insulting religious feelings” in places for “worship, other religious rites and ceremonies” one may face a fine of up to 500 thousand rubles. or up to three years. In the Administrative Code, deputies want to establish liability for “deliberate public desecration of objects of religious veneration” (fine for citizens from 30 thousand to 50 thousand rubles, for officials - from 100 thousand to 200 thousand rubles).

The communists opposed the amendments most decisively, despite the fact that the bill was supported by the leadership of the faction. Thus, deputy Boris Kashin saw “the influence of the clerical lobby” behind the amendments, noting that “freedom of conscience includes the right to atheistic views, the right not to profess any religion.” And another deputy from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Oleg Smolin, warned that “a believer may consider it an insult” even that someone professes a different religion. “What to do with Pushkin’s fairy tale “About the priest and his worker Balda”?” - said Mr. Smolin.

Maxim Ivanov

Believers will be given special status