State Duma committee backs amendments introducing life imprisonment for treason, stronger punishment for terrorism

MOSCOW. April 10 (Interfax) - The State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation approved amendments introducing life imprisonment for treason and a stronger punishment for terrorism on Monday.

"We will submit them for the second hearing on Thursday," Committee Chairman Pavel Krasheninnikov said after the vote.

Currently, the Russian Criminal Code penalizes treason with 12 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to 500,000 rubles.

The amendments were earlier announced by State Duma Security and Anti-Corruption Committee Chairman Vasily Piskaryov, who said that all factions backed these changes that are generally aimed at tightening punishment for terrorism. The amendments were prepared for the bill, which had passed its first reading, and "could be processed quickly," he said.

The amendments also concern the article on acts of terrorism and seek to increase the maximum penalty for terrorist actions capable of causing fatalities and aimed at national destabilization to 20 years in prison (versus the current 15 years). Recruitment for or involvement in terrorist activity will be punished by at least seven years of imprisonment (versus the current 5-15 years) under the proposed changes.

The minimum penalty for aiding and abetting terrorism will increase from ten to 12 years (the maximum penalty is 20 years). Persons charged with organizing or involvement in a terrorist network will face ten to 15 years of imprisonment (versus the current five to ten years). Punishment on counts of sabotage will be tightened to 20 years in prison (versus the current 15 years), in cases of damage done to transport infrastructure, public utilities and human health aimed at undermining national economic security and defense capacity. The punishment for an act of international terrorism may grow to range from 12 years to life imprisonment (the current minimum penalty is ten years).

Longer sentences entail incarceration in high-security penitentiaries. People sentenced to life imprisonment will not be allowed to appeal for release on parole until they have served 25 years and demonstrate exemplary behavior.