Russia’s lower house considering bill absolving crimes in occupied Ukrainian territories if they are committed ‘in Russia’s interests’

The Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) has passed the bill in its first reading that would absolve crimes committed on occupied territories of Ukraine if it was done “to defend Russia’s interests”. The house convened to discuss the bill on 13 December, Lawyer Street reports.

The bill would apply to the crimes committed on territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions before 30 September 2022, the explanatory note attached to the bill reads.

Lawyer Street, however, notes that the date (30 September) is only mentioned once, the rest of the document does not set any timelines. Moreover, the bill does not explain the meaning of “in Russia’s interests”.

Lawyer Mikhail Benyash believes that this bill was drafted to “avoid running to Putin for pardoning certain people all the time”.

Moreover, Senator Andrey Klishas told RTVI that a bill would soon be submitted to the State Duma that would limit work opportunities for Russians that leave the country.

Earlier today, Verstka reported citing two parliament sources that a bill would be tabled before the closing of the autumn parliamentary session to restrict remote work opportunities for spheres deemed sensitive by Moscow. The ban would apply to Russian citizens who fled the war and mobilisation in Russia.

In addition, the State Duma members passed the bill in its first reading about life imprisonment for acts of sabotage.

“According to the bill, incentivising, recruiting in or any other involvement of people in acts of sabotage as well as financing sabotage will be punished by a sentence of up to a lifetime in prison. The same punishment is envisioned for receiving training to commit acts of sabotage if the bull passes in its final reading,” the State Duma announcement reads.