Bilateral law

Separatism is a phenomenon for the Kremlin with a landmark, seductive and anxious at the same time. On the one hand, this is the "largest geopolitical disaster", "Chechen rebellion" and the threat of the collapse of the Russian Federation; On the other hand, an excellent tool for destabilizing "naughty" countries. Which is thoroughly verified over the past year in Ukraine.

Having experienced the effect of separatism in the fraternal country, Vladimir Putin panicked - there would not be something like this. Just at the end of last year, he signed the law on the introduction to the Criminal Code of the new article - 280 (1). Public calls for the implementation of actions aimed at violating the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation began to be punishable by imprisonment of up to three years, and when using the media and the Internet - up to five years.

Six months passed - and the tantrum resumed. On July 22, Putin signs the law on amending this article. As anyone can guess, this is not about the mitigation of punishment, but about its tightening. In the first part, the term rises to four years; In the second, an additional punishment is added in the form of deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities for a period of up to four years. The five -year maximum term of imprisonment does not change.

About judicial practice under article 280 (1) is not heard. She entered into force on May 9, 2014. It seems that in two months there was not a single court on charges of propaganda of separatism. So why panic? What happened that the inactive law decided to tighten? And Ukraine happened! More precisely, the Crimea Peninsula and the Crimean Tatars.

Figging separatism in Ukraine is easy and pleasant. But to come to terms with the requirements of the Crimean Tatars to return Crimea to the place of the Kremlin unbearable. Acting in the usual style of intimidation of society by dragon laws, Putin announces new sanctions under an article on the promotion of separatism. Because the restoration of the legal status of Crimea is, from the point of view of the Kremlin, separatism. This is about a thief, who slammed a purse from a ladies' handbag in a tram, will consider an encroachment on his property the intention of a policeman to return the stolen wallet of an unfortunate lady. Having packed someone else's, this thief will loudly advocate compliance with the rule of law, for the right of private property, for the peaceful resolution of the conflict, assuring others that the stolen belongs to him rightfully.

What right? These are details. You can, of course, ask him about it and, in response, playing with nodules, will say that "sovereignty and territorial integrity - fundamental, as I said, values. We are talking about ensuring the independence and unity of our state, reliable protection of the territory."

The situation from a legal point of view is absurd. Having bitten from Ukraine Crimea under the pretext of "right to self -determination", Moscow will now be considered a criminal for anyone who demands to restore the legality. In Crimea, these are almost all Crimean Tatars. Not only did they be foreigners overnight in their homeland, since the majority refused to receive Russian passports - so now they are separatists on the basis of nationality.

It is unlikely that the tightening of the criminal article 280 (1) has any other reasons. Putin makes it clear to Crimean Tatars what he will do with those who do not want to see his homeland in the Russian Federation. In the current Russian Criminal Code, there are no such types of punishments as a link and expulsion. If they appear, then Putin will have every chance in history along with Stalin, making a new deportation of Crimean Tatars. Stalin 70 years ago accused them of betraying his homeland, Putin will now be able to accuse of separatism. The legislative framework for this is almost ready.