The State Duma adopted a law on a 10-year term for collectors for threats and use of violence

The State Duma in the final third reading adopted law, which supplements the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation with a new article – 172.4 (“Illegal implementation of activities to return overdue debts of individuals”). One of the sanctions under this article is 10 years in prison.

Collectors will be criminally liable if they use violence, threaten to use it, destroy or damage property (or threaten to do so), disseminate deliberately false information that discredits the honor and dignity of the debtor or people close to him.

In the event of criminal liability under the new article, the collector will face a fine of 300 thousand to 500 thousand rubles, or forced labor for up to five years, or imprisonment for the same period.

For the commission of the above actions by a group of persons by prior conspiracy with the use of violence not dangerous to life, or with the destruction or damage to property on a large scale, imprisonment for a period of three to seven years with a fine of 500 thousand to 1 million rubles is expected.

If a crime is committed by an organized group using violence dangerous to life or health, collectors will be punished with imprisonment for a term of five to ten years with a fine of 1 million to 5 million rubles.

“This decision protects our citizens who find themselves in a difficult life situation. The lawlessness of collectors has been put to an end, ”Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, commented on the law in his channel on Telegram-channel.

The bill was introduced by a group of deputies in June 2022. As a reason, the explanatory materials indicated an increase in the number of citizens’ complaints against creditors. According to the FSSP for 2018-2020, more than 78.3 thousand applications were accepted for consideration.

Milena Kostereva