President Vladimir Putin on Monday approved a package of legal amendments that tighten penalties for acts of sabotage, which have soared in numbers since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The measures lower the age at which minors can be charged with sabotage or terrorism to 14 from 16. They also abolish statutes of limitations for sabotage-related crimes, bar courts from issuing suspended sentences in such cases and restrict parole until at least three-quarters of a sentence is served.
Likewise, individuals who try to recruit minors for carrying out sabotage and terrorist acts can now face up to life in prison.
Lawmakers, who passed the amendments almost unanimously last week, cast the changes as a safeguard against foreign intelligence services recruiting Russian youths.
But critics, including some Communist Party members, warned that the legislation risks criminalizing children rather than preventing radicalization.
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin defended the measures as “humane,” saying they shield minors from being “dragged into” sabotage networks.
Russian courts have convicted at least 158 minors on terrorism and sabotage charges since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began more than three years ago, many in cases involving arson attacks on military enlistment offices and railway infrastructure.
Law enforcement officials say some teenagers were motivated by payments from those ordering the attacks.
An increasing number of minors have also been sentenced to prison or juvenile facilities for voicing opposition to the war.
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.
