The Federation Council approved the introduction of the concepts of “mobilization” and “martial law” in the Criminal Code

The Federation Council approved the law on imprisonment for up to 10 years for voluntary surrender and up to 15 years for looting in wartime. The Criminal Code introduces the concepts of “mobilization”, “martial law” and “wartime”. State Duma on the eve unanimously adopted law immediately in the second and third reading.

For voluntary surrender (Article 352.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) threatens from 3 to 10 years in prison (if there are no signs of treason), for looting (Article 356.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) – up to 15 years in prison. Toughen punishment for unauthorized abandonment of a unit during mobilization and martial law (Article 337 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation): for a period of 2 to 10 days – up to 5 years in prison, for a period of 10 days to a month – up to 7 years in prison, for a period more than a month – from 5 to 10 years in prison.

For “non-compliance by subordinates with the order of the chief”, as well as for refusing to participate in military or hostilities, imprisonment for a term of 2 to 3 years is threatened. Also, the article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on aggravating circumstances (Article 63) introduced the commission of a crime “during the period of mobilization or martial law, in wartime or in conditions of an armed conflict or combat operations.”

The bill on changing the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation passed the first reading in July, a package of amendments to the second reading made September 19th. The initiators of the amendments are senators Andrey Klishas and Olga Kovitidi, as well as nine State Duma deputies: Dmitry Vyatkin, Ernest Valeev, Vasily Piskarev, Andrey Kartapolov (all from United Russia), Leonid Slutsky (LDPR), Oleg Nilov (Fair Russia – for the Truth”), Vladislav Davankov (“New People”), Viktor Sobolev, Nikolai Kolomeitsev (both from the Communist Party).

Mr. Kartapolov yesterday, September 20, arguedthat the adopted amendments to the Criminal Code are not preparation for general mobilization in Russia. About the same spoke Ms Kovitidi. From today, September 21, in Russia by decree of Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilization.

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Laura Keffer