Putin called long sentences for non-violent crimes controversial

Human Rights Council member Eva Merkacheva, during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, drew attention to the “huge sentences” for non-violent crimes handed down by Russian courts. As an example, she pointed to the sentence of journalist Alexandra Bayazitova – she sentenced to five years in a case of extortion (clause “b”, part 3, article 163 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The President called such sentences controversial and stated the need to “take another look” at how law enforcement practice can be improved.

Eva Merkacheva said that in Russia the number of punishments not related to imprisonment is growing, but at the same time the number of sentences of “7, 10, 15, 20, 24 years for a crime as a result of which no one was injured” has increased. According to her, courts impose two to three times more years of imprisonment for economic crimes than for “rape and murder.”

“I’ll still give you an example. A colleague, journalist Bayazitova, who was accused of a non-violent crime, allegedly asked a banker for money on a telegram channel in order to put a block on negative information – the prosecutor demanded 14 years, 14 years for a female journalist,” said Mrs. Merkacheva. She noted that in the end the journalist was sentenced to five years in prison (quote from RIA Novosti).

“A five-year-old girl with diabetes who didn’t kill anyone. And the victim, I repeat, does not want to be sent to prison. But she is still sitting in a pre-trial detention center and, apparently, will go to a colony for 5 years,” noted a member of the Human Rights Council. According to her, in recent years, “huge sentences” for non-violent crimes have become more frequent.

“These examples that you gave, they, of course, do not fit in my head. When for certain actions, which, of course, violate the law, nevertheless, the terms are 7, 10 years, in my opinion, as a citizen of the Russian Federation, these are, of course, controversial things, as, let’s say, carefully,” said Vladimir Putin. He called for turning to the State Duma, the government, and the public to think about “what and how to do in order to improve both legislation and law enforcement practice.”

Alexandra Bayazitova was sentenced to five years in prison by the Moscow Basmanny Court on November 27. She was found guilty of extorting 1.2 million rubles. from Senior Vice President of Promsvyazbank Alexander Ushakov. The journalist suffers from chronic diseases, including diabetes and hypertension.

Read more about the verdict in the Kommersant article. “Blocking negativity has fallen below its lowest limit.”.

Lusine Balasyan