Russia’s State Duma adopts bill on life imprisonment for acts of sabotage

Russia’s State Duma (the lower house of Russia’s Parliament — translator’s note) has adopted in the third, final reading a bill on life imprisonment for people who underwent training with the goal of committing acts of sabotage. The corresponding statement was posted on the State Duma website. 

“For inducement, recruitment, or other inclusion [of other people] in sabotage activities, [the accused] will face prison terms up to life imprisonment,” the statement reads.

Life imprisonment will also be a potential punishment for founding a saboteur community and undergoing training with the goal of committing acts of sabotage. 

The bill stipulates up to 10 years of imprisonment for those who participate in such communities and from 10 to 20 years of imprisonment for those who “are complicit in committing an act of sabotage”.

The bill was introduced in the State Duma on 8 December. On 14 December, it was adopted in the first reading.

“Considering the fact that the Russian Federation is conducting the special military operation and at the same time accepting refugees, is remaining open for entry and exit of foreign citizens, adoption [of this bill] is a fundamentally important step necessary for the protection of our country. The punishment for saboteurs will be as severe as possible,” Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma and one of the bill’s authors, said back then.