Putin Signs Bill Officially Decriminalizing Domestic Violence

[Mingle]

After easily passing in both houses of Russian parliament, a bill that decriminalizes domestic violence was officially signed into law by President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday afternoon. Yes, you read that correctly.

As CNN reported, any beating of a spouse or child that causes bleeding or bruising, but not broken bones, will be punishable by up to 15 days in prison, 120 hours of community service, or a fine, if they do not occur more than once during a single year. For subsequent offenses, perpetrators are subjected to higher fines, six months of community service, and up to three months in jail. Prior to the new law being signed into effect, such abuse was punishable by up to two years in prison.

The bill was sponsored by conservative lawmaker Yelena Mizulina, who made international headlines in 2013 after successfully championing a law that banned "gay propaganda." Mizulina and other supporters said that the measure was introduced as a way to keep the state from interfering in what it considers "family matters."

“The question is not whether it’s OK to hit or not. Of course it isn’t," Olga Batalina, one of the MPs who wrote the law, said. "The question is how to punish people and what you should punish them for."

Though information on domestic violence is not centrally collected, as CNN noted, the state-run news agency RIA Novosti reports that 40 percent of violent crimes occur within the family. Each day 36,000 women are beaten by their husbands, and 12,000 women die each year because of domestic violence. And the violence extends to other family members to well—a reported 26,000 children are assaulted annually by a parent.

"It is a very dangerous for the government to draw a line between 'just bruises' or serious physical violence because…the situation in Russia shows that domestic violence very rarely ends with bruises," Yulia Gorbunova of Human Rights Watch told CNN. "It usually almost always goes to the next step."

---------------

http://www.glamour.com/story/russian...estic-violence

[Wadaad]

Good job Putin

The state apparatus has long used the courts to meddle in the family affairs of its citizens...so much so that many women now think their real husband is 9-11 and call the police if you even sneeze on them. Next thing you know, you are paying alimony and child support for that sneeze, or worse, Childrens aid gets involved and your kids are taken away to be adopted (and abused).

[Loki]

SOME less serious cases, not all.

[Tooting Carmen]

LOL this bill is so twisted I do not know where to begin.

[Mingle]

Good job Putin

The state apparatus has long used the courts to meddle in the family affairs of its citizens...so much so that many women now think their real husband is 9-11 and call the police if you even sneeze on them. Next thing you know, you are paying alimony and child support for that sneeze, or worse, Childrens aid gets involved and your kids are taken away to be adopted (and abused).

You think its okay for men to inflict bruises on women without facing any consequences because of the threat that the women might report him over something minor? That's like legalizing rape because a tiny minority of women have lied about getting raped in the past.

[Wadaad]

You think its okay for men to inflict bruises on women without facing any consequences because of the threat that the women might report him over something minor? That's like legalizing rape because a tiny minority of women have lied about getting raped in the past.

they will still face consequences though...

As CNN reported, any beating of a spouse or child that causes bleeding or bruising, but not broken bones, will be punishable by up to 15 days in prison, 120 hours of community service, or a fine, if they do not occur more than once during a single year. For subsequent offenses, perpetrators are subjected to higher fines, six months of community service, and up to three months in jail. Prior to the new law being signed into effect, such abuse was punishable by up to two years in prison.

I dont know why 'decriminaization' was the term chosen... it will still be illegal to commit domestic abuse

[Óttar]

SOME less serious cases, not all.

Don't make apologies for barbarism. Assault and battery are serious crimes and this new bill is a gross miscarriage of justice. The fact that women were among the most prominent drafters of the bill shows that most women are masochists.

[Profileid]

Loki's panties would have immediately lodged themselves up his own ass if Obama did the same thing.

[Loki]

Don't make apologies for barbarism. Assault and battery are serious crimes and this new bill is a gross miscarriage of justice. The fact that women were among the most prominent drafters of the bill shows that most women are masochists.

You guys sadly fail to understand what this bill is about.

[Óttar]

You guys sadly fail to understand what this bill is about.

The State has a legal interest in interfering with family life if assault and battery is occurring within the family. Easy.