Deputy Head of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation Elena Mizulina said that it is necessary to raise the issue of lowering the age of criminal responsibility for children. This was reported by the senator's press service.

“I think we will soon have to raise the issue of lowering the age of criminal responsibility for minors. I have always been opposed to such a step, but life forces us to return to discussing such a possibility,” the message says.

At the same time, on her Twitter, the senator emphasized that this issue is debatable and needs to be discussed. She noted that recently there has been a tendency to “rejuvenate” the age of criminals.

Speaking about the need to discuss this issue, the senator turned to the data of the Office of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Omsk Region. It says that law enforcement agencies have identified the person , who is hiding under the pseudonym Eva Reich. According to Novaya Gazeta, she encouraged minors to commit suicide.

The person has been identified as a 13-year-old schoolgirl. The message from the Investigative Committee indicated that the girl did not deny that “while playing, she corresponded in social groups with many participants, including on suicidal topics.”

Mizulina notes that since the child is not yet 14 years old, she is subject to legislation on the prevention of delinquency among minors. “Administrative measures and educational measures may be taken against the girl, up to and including her placement in a closed specialized institution for teenagers.”

The Investigative Directorate also notes that investigators seized the girl’s mobile phone and computer hard drive. The persons who directed the child’s “activities” are being identified, investigators noted.

On May 16, Novaya Gazeta published an article by Galina Mursalieva, “Group of Death,” which talked about closed groups on VKontakte. According to the author of the investigation, minors in these communities were encouraged to commit suicide.

Last week, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on incitement to suicide through groups on social networks.

Now, according to Article 20 of the Criminal Code of Russia, criminal liability begins at the age of 16, except for crimes committed under certain articles. Among them: murder, causing grievous bodily harm, kidnapping, rape, theft, robbery, terrorist attack, vandalism and some others. When committing these crimes, criminal liability begins at the age of 14.

Mizulina allowed the age of criminal responsibility to be lowered