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Russia Enacts Tougher Sabotage and Terrorism Laws, Including Life Terms for Involving Minors

Officials say the overhaul responds to a sharp rise in sabotage convictions.

Overview

  • President Vladimir Putin signed the measures and they took effect upon publication on the Official Legal Information Portal.
  • Article 281.1 now criminalizes persuading, recruiting, or involving a minor in sabotage, punishable by life imprisonment or 10–20 years plus a fine of 500,000–1,000,000 rubles.
  • Article 205.1 on aiding terrorist activity was toughened to allow life imprisonment or 10–20 years with the same fine range.
  • The law lowers the age of criminal responsibility to 14 for specified terrorism- and sabotage-related offenses, including aiding and organizing such activities.
  • Parole rules now require serving 75% of the sentence for sabotage-related crimes, courts are barred from imposing lighter penalties than the articles specify, suspended sentences are restricted for participation in a sabotage community, and statutes of limitations for sabotage offenses are removed.