LDPR proposes to introduce chemical castration for those convicted of pedophilia

The LDPR party announced that it would soon submit to the State Duma a bill on the introduction of forced chemical castration in Russia as a punishment for those convicted of pedophilia. In a message from the faction in Telegram channel it is said that similar practice is applied in other countries.

Chemical castration is the introduction of drugs that “reduce sexual desire for a long time or for life.” “The number of crimes related to violent acts of a sexual nature is constantly growing. Often their victims are minors, in half of the cases they have not even reached the age of 14, ”the Liberal Democratic Party said in a statement.

In 2011, deputies of the Just Russia faction submitted to the State Duma a bill on the forced castration of those convicted of pedophilia. It was proposed to start the procedure six months before the end of the term of imprisonment. The government rejected the initiative because it was “costly”, especially given the duration and regularity of chemical castration.

“Given that the number of sexual crimes against minors over the years has increased by about one and a half times, the Liberal Democratic Party tends to consider such an argument insignificant compared to the increased need to combat pedophilia,” said Boris Chernyshov, State Duma deputy from the Liberal Democratic Party.

According to Russian law, punishment for pedophilia is provided for in Art. 131-135 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The maximum term of imprisonment is 20 years, in case of repeated violation – life imprisonment. Since 2012, voluntary chemical castration has been introduced: it is applied with the consent of the person convicted of sexual violence against a minor. Forced chemical castration is used in Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and some US states.

Lusine Balasyan