The State Duma, Russia's lower chamber of parliament, passed a bill allowing debt-ridden individuals to be deprived of a driving license, parliament's website reported Tuesday.
The bill proposes to sanction individuals with unpaid alimony, unpaid administrative fines and non-pecuniary damages of more than 10,000 rubles ($160). The driving license will reportedly be returned upon debt repayment.
The bill extends to the confiscation of aircraft and ship licenses, as well as automobile.
The bill specifies that licenses cannot be taken from individuals officially recognized as handicapped, nor those who use vehicle as their main source of revenue.
If approved, some 300,000 people would be affected by the bill, a Federal Bailiffs Service official said, the RBC news agency reported on Nov. 11.
After Duma approval, the bill must be passed by the Federation Council, Russian parliament's upper house, and signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is scheduled to come into effect on Jan. 15, 2016.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
