Russian MPs back bill reducing punishment for domestic violence
Source: Agence France-Presse
Russian MPs back bill reducing punishment for domestic violence
Agence France-Presse in Moscow
Wednesday 25 January 2017 17.07 GMT
Russian MPs have backed a controversial bill reducing the punishment for some forms of domestic violence in a crucial second reading, despite protests from rights groups.
The amendments reduce the penalty for violence against family members, including spouses and children, as long as it is a first offence and does not cause serious injury, making it punishable by a fine of up to 30,000 rubles (£400).
Violence against a family member that does not cause serious physical injury is currently defined as battery and punishable by up to two years in jail.
Last week Amnesty International appealed to Russias parliament not to pass the bill, condemning it as a sickening attempt to trivialise domestic violence.
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Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/25/russian-mps-bill-reducing-punishment-domestic-violence-rights