The State Duma toughens punishment for disobeying the police
The Russian State Duma today passed in its first reading a law increasing fines for disobeying police orders during public events, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
As Dmitry Vyatkin, a United Russia deputy who presented the bill, explained, the current amount of fines - 500-1000 rubles - does not correspond to either social harm or danger, because the lives and health of citizens depend on it.
“It is absolutely obvious that 500 rubles will not stop any violator. As practice shows, failure to comply with a lawful request of a law enforcement officer is not only dangerous in itself, but can also lead to further violation of the rights of other citizens, including the threat of harm to life, health, and property,” Vyatkin said.
His fellow party member Rafael Mardanshin believes that the current amounts of fines do not correspond to “the degree of potential danger of the act and do not provide the preventive function of the legislation.”
Now, for disobedience to the requirements of law enforcement officers at rallies, fines for citizens for the first act will range from 2 to 4 thousand rubles, and for repeated commission of such offenses - from 10 to 20 thousand rubles. As an alternative punishment, administrative arrest for up to 30 days or compulsory labor for up to 200 hours are proposed.
The State Duma is toughening penalties for disobeying police orders.