The State Duma approved a draft ban on visiting children’s institutions for those convicted of pedophilia

The State Duma adopted in the first reading bill, which will prohibit persons who have an outstanding or unexpunged conviction for crimes against the sexual integrity of minors from visiting children’s educational and health institutions. According to the explanatory note, if adopted, the law will affect more than 7.4 thousand convicts.

The ban is planned to be introduced for those convicted under Art. 131 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Rape”), Art. 132 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Violent acts of a sexual nature”), Art. 133 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Forcing to perform actions of a sexual nature”), Art. 134 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Sexual intercourse and other actions of a sexual nature with a person under 16 years of age”), Art. 135 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Depraved acts”). Persons who have an unexpunged or outstanding criminal record under these articles are planned to be prohibited from visiting children’s educational organizations, as well as facilities for recreation, children’s health, and sports.

According to Russian law, a criminal record is considered expunged upon expiration of the period after serving the sentence established by law. For persons convicted of serious crimes, this period is eight years after serving the sentence, for especially serious crimes – ten years after serving the sentence. A criminal record will be considered expunged if there is a State Duma resolution on amnesty or a presidential decree on pardon.

The bill was submitted to the State Duma on December 16, 2023 by the Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption. By words the head of the committee, Vasily Piskarev, the initiative was developed due to the “high degree of danger of such people for society”, as well as because of their “significant number”. According to Mr. Piskarev, over the six months of 2023, the number of people convicted under these articles amounted to 7,435 people.