A bill allowing police to shoot into a crowd was introduced into the State Duma

Deputies Vasily Piskarev and Ernest Valeev introduced a bill according to which police would be able to use firearms in crowds of people. The corresponding document was published on the State Duma website.

In particular, they proposed giving police the right to shoot in a crowd “in order to prevent (suppress) a terrorist act, free hostages, repel a group armed attack on critical and potentially dangerous objects, buildings, premises, structures or objects, buildings, premises, structures of authorities state power."

The new amendments also provide police protection by law: “a police officer is not subject to prosecution for actions committed in the performance of his duties” if they were carried out in the manner established by federal laws.

In addition, “the state guarantees a presumption of trust and support for a police officer in the performance of his official duties.”

In December 2015, the State Duma adopted amendments to the law on the FSB, which also allowed agency employees to use weapons in crowded places. Later, Vladimir Putin granted similar powers to the National Guard troops.