23 May 2022 14:46

Bill introducing prison terms, up to 10 years, for complying with anti-Russian sanctions in Russia approved by relevant State Duma committee

MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - The State Building and Legislation Committee of Russia's State Duma on Monday recommended that the lower house of the Russian parliament adopt in the first reading a bill amending the Russian penal Code to introduce criminal liability for compliance with anti-Russian sanctions in Russia.

According to the proposed legislation, the article about abuse of power in the Penal Code will be supplemented with a provision on actions committed in implementation of a foreign state's decision to introduce restrictive measures against Russia.

Anyone convicted of implementing anti-Russian sanctions in Russia will face a fine of up to 1,000,000 rubles or to the amount of the corresponding convict's income over a period of up to five years, or a penalty of forced labor for up to five years, with a ban on taking certain positions for up to three years, co-author of the initiative and head of the State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov told reporters earlier.

This offence would also carry the penalty of up to 10 years in prison with a ban to take certain positions for up to three years, Krasheninnikov said.

The purpose of the proposed amendments to the Penal Code is to prevent the economic situation in Russia from deteriorating any further, he said. "We are proposing to amend the Russian Penal Code. We consider such a measure to be justified," he said.

Several Russian companies, including state-funded ones, are refusing to work with sanctioned banks and other firms, citing various reasons, as they are afraid to end up being sanctioned themselves, he said.

"Obviously, one of the goals of foreign sanctions is the destabilization of Russia's domestic economy and the pitting of domestic companies against each other," he said.

"The introduction and observation of sanctions by foreign countries or alliances of foreign countries is the responsibility of those countries, the alliances, and their officials," he said.

"However, if someone inside the Russian Federation decides to restrict the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens, legal entities, agencies or organizations, such persons must be subject to criminal liability," Krasheninnikov said.

The Russian government has however criticized the draft legislation in its review, describing the proposed penalty of up to 10 years in prison as excessive and expressing disagreement with the statement that any compliance with sanctions should be considered as abuse of power under the Penal Code.

The Penal Code article on abuse of power, which the draft bill proposes to amend with regard to punishment for observing anti-Russian sanctions, would essentially defend the interests of commercial and other entities, the government said. Meanwhile, the objective of the draft legislation is to defend the interests of Russian citizens and the Russian state, it said. The proposed approach cannot fully attain these goals, the government said in its opinion.