President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law decriminalising some types of domestic violence.

The Russian leader passed the new law reducing the punishment for the offence of “battery of a relative”.

President Putin changed the offence from a criminal to a civil matter in cases when the victim suffered no serious harm.

The aim is to protect the rights of parents who want to discipline their children, supporters say. Anyone who causes serious harm will still face criminal charges.

But women’s rights campaigners have hit out at the move amid fears that domestic abuse rates could rise.

Others say it will exonerate “tyrants in the home” and discourage victims from reporting abuse.

Each year, 14,000 women in Russia are killed by husbands or relatives, a 2010 United Nations report found.

The lower house of Russia’s parliament passed the bill at its second reading in January by 385 votes to two. It was signed off on Thursday by the Russian President.

The offence of battery of a relative, in cases where there are no broken bones, previously carried a maximum prison sentence of two years. Now offenders face a fine or 15 days in prison if the offence has not happened more than once in a year. </s> Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that decriminalizes some forms of domestic violence.

The law will categorize as administrative offenses -- instead of criminal acts -- cases of domestic violence that result in pain but not bodily harm.

Dubbed the "slapping law," the bill would affect parents who strike their children and people who strike their spouses or partners.

In the event of any danger to the victim’s health or in the case of repeat offenses, the perpetrator would face criminal charges.

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Under the new law, first-time administrative offenses would be punishable by a fine of up to 30,000 rubles ($500), detention for up to 15 days, or 120 hours of community service.

Supporters say the change is intended to prevent unwarranted interference by the state in domestic matters.

Women's and children's organizations as well as NGOs had criticized the proposed change in the law.

Russia's upper chamber of parliament, the Federation Council, passed the bill on February 1, a few days after it was approved by the lower-chamber of parliament. </s> MOSCOW -- Legislation that would decriminalize some forms of domestic violence has advanced easily in the Russian parliament despite vehement criticism from human rights and family protection groups.

 

 The bill sailed through the second of three votes in the State Duma, Russia’s lower parliament house, with nearly unanimous support on January 25. The vote was 385-2, with one abstention.

 

 Backers say the bill will prevent the state from meddling in the affairs of families, which President Vladimir Putin has placed at the heart of a pivot toward what he casts as traditional Russian values.

 

 The legislation would reduce battery against a close relative from a criminal offense to an administrative misdemeanor.

 

 Amnesty International has called it a "sickening attempt to trivialize domestic violence."

 

 Opponents have urged lawmakers to reject the legislation and this week sought to hold a rally of protest in central Moscow but were denied permission by the city authorities.

 

 The bill will go to Putin for signature if it passes one more vote in the Duma and one in the upper house. </s> Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial law partially decriminalizing domestic violence, in a move hailed by Russian conservatives but deplored by women’s rights campaigners.

The law ends criminal liability for battery of family members that does not cause bodily harm and is not a repeat offence.

It instead makes domestic battery equivalent to minor assault, which is an administrative offence punishable by a 30,000 ruble (£412) fine, 15 days in jail, or 120 hours of community service.

Repeat offences and attacks that cause injury will still be considered crimes.

Ultra conservative MPs who pushed the legislation through parliament said it eliminates an anomaly in the law that criminalized parents smacking their own children but allowed strangers to do so with impunity, and that serious offenders will still be held accountable.

Women’s groups bitterly opposed the amendment, saying it would lift one of very few legal protections against domestic violence. </s> Vladimir Putin has signed a law that decriminalises some forms of domestic violence.

In January, the lower-chamber of the Russian parliament gave its overwhelming backing to the law that would ease some penalties for domestic violence, alarming women’s rights campaigners who fear it will encourage abuse. Russia’s upper chamber of parliament, the Federation Council, passed the bill on 01 February.

Dubbed the “slapping law,” the bill would allow parents to strike their children and husbands to strike their wives or partners.

The law will categorise as administrative offences — instead of criminal acts — cases of domestic violence that result in pain but not bodily harm.

The law, which the State Duma or lower house of parliament, passed in its second of three readings by 385 votes to two, would reduce battery of a relative to a civil offence instead of a criminal offence in first instances, when the victim suffered no serious harm.

Those who support the proposed change, including members of President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, say they want to protect parents’ right to discipline their children and to reduce the state’s ability to meddle in family life.

“This is a historic vote because in certain countries the state’s role in family life is way too much,” said then Andrei Isayev, a deputy representing United Russia. “Today’s vote will end such practices in the Russian Federation.”

Supporters of the amendment say anyone who inflicts serious physical harm will still be criminally liable. But women’s rights campaigners say it is a retrograde step. Women’s and children’s organisations as well as NGOs have vehemently criticised the proposed change in the law.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters it was important to distinguish between “family relations” and repeated instances of violence.

Each year, about 14,000 women die in Russia at the hands of husbands or other relatives, according to a 2010 United Nations report. </s> Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into a law a controversial bill that decriminalizes many cases of domestic violence.

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The bill concerns assaults that inflict physical pain but do not cause bodily injury that threatens the victim’s health.

It means that the new law makes battery on a family member punishable by a $500 fine or a 15-day prison sentence – so long as they don’t break any bones.

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Previously, the Russian law carried a maximum jail sentence of two years.

Assaults causing serious injury or repeat offenses within a year would still be criminal offenses and carry potential jail terms.

Supporters of the new bill insist it does not encourage or sanction violence, but instead gives families a chance to reconcile after what the bill’s co-author, Olga Batalina, described as an “emotional conflict, without malice, without grave consequences”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that it was important to tell the difference between serious violence and “various manifestations of family relations”.

But critics say the new law will make holding abusers accountable even more difficult and put lives at risk.

Politician Yury Sinelshchikov, who opposed the bill, said: “Women don’t often go to the police or the courts regarding their abusive husbands, now there will be even fewer such cases, and the number of murders will increase.”

Maria Mokhova, the executive director of the Sisters crisis center for abuse victims, told Reuters: “This law calls for the exoneration of tyrants in the home.”

Click for more from The Sun. </s> MOSCOW – A bill that would decriminalize some forms of domestic violence in Russia passed a key stage in the Duma on Wednesday.

The bill, dubbed the “slapping law”, decriminalizes a first offence of domestic violence that does not seriously injure the person, making it a less serious administrative offence. The bill also includes violence against children.

More than 85 per cent of legislators in Russia’s Duma approved the bill –– seen as part of President Vladimir Putin’s drive to appease conservative pushing “traditional family values” –– on Wednesday in its second reading. It will need a third reading and vote before going to the upper house and then to the president to sign into law.

The bill’s sponsors, including conservative senator Yelena Mizulina, say the proposed law would simply bring family law into line with reforms passed last summer that loosened punishment for other minor assaults.

Mizulina, a staunch proponent of traditional values, was also the author of Russia’s controversial “gay propaganda law”, which prohibits “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relationships”.

The Russian Orthodox Church, with its emphasis on the traditional family, is also influencing the debate. So are the traditional rules of Russian family life, including the “domostroi”, a centuries-old manual prescribing strict rules of behavior and requiring absolute submission to the head of the family.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to say whether domestic violence should be decriminalized, but told journalists that “creating solid families is a priority. It’s what everyone needs”.

Women’s rights groups have vocally opposed the bill, saying that decriminalizing assaults will only encourage more violence in a country where the rate of assaults in homes are relatively high.

Human Rights Watch has urged parliament to reject the law, calling it “dangerous and incompatible with Russia’s international human rights obligations”.

“Passage of this law would be a huge step backward for Russia, where victims of domestic violence already face enormous obstacles to getting help or justice,” said Human Rights Watch Russia researcher, Yulia Gorbunova.

Official data on domestic violence in Russia is not centrally collected so it’s difficult to verify. But state-run news agency RIA Novosti has reported that 40 per cent of serious crimes in Russia are committed in the family, 36,000 women are beaten by their husbands daily, and 12,000 women die yearly as a result of domestic violence –– one woman every 44 minutes. </s> MOSCOW — A bill that would decriminalize some forms of domestic violence in Russia passed a key stage in the Duma on Wednesday.

The bill, dubbed the “slapping law,” decriminalizes a first offense of domestic violence that does not seriously injure the person, making it a less serious administrative offense. The bill also includes violence against children.

More than 85% of legislators in Russia’s Duma approved the bill — seen as part of President Vladimir Putin’s drive to appease conservative pushing “traditional family values” — on Wednesday in its second reading. It will need a third reading and vote before going to the upper house and then to the president to sign into law.

The bill’s sponsors, including conservative senator Yelena Mizulina, say the proposed law would simply bring family law into line with reforms passed last summer that loosened punishment for other minor assaults.

Mizulina, a staunch proponent of traditional values, was also the author of Russia’s controversial “gay propaganda law,” which prohibits “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relationships.”

The Russian Orthodox Church, with its emphasis on the traditional family, is also influencing the debate. So are the traditional rules of Russian family life, including the “domostroi,” a centuries-old manual prescribing strict rules of behavior and requiring absolute submission to the head of the family.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to say whether domestic violence should be decriminalized, but told journalists that “creating solid families is a priority. It’s what everyone needs.”

Women’s rights groups have vocally opposed the bill, saying that decriminalizing assaults will only encourage more violence in a country where the rate of assaults in homes are relatively high.

Human Rights Watch has urged parliament to reject the law, calling it “dangerous and incompatible with Russia’s international human rights obligations.”

“Passage of this law would be a huge step backward for Russia, where victims of domestic violence already face enormous obstacles to getting help or justice,” said Human Rights Watch Russia researcher, Yulia Gorbunova.

Activist Alena Popova has launched a petition on Change.org demanding that the Duma pass a completely new law against domestic violence. More than 224,000 people have signed it.

When asked whether Russia needed a separate domestic violence law, Peskov told reporters Wednesday that the current bill was also aimed at preventing violence.

“If you take a look at the bill, responsibility (must be taken) in the case of a repeat offense. So over-exaggerating the responsibility for displays of family relationships would not be appropriate,” he said.

“Undoubtedly, there should be responsibility, there should be regulatory legislation which could prevent domestic violence, but comparing domestic violence to separate cases of minor importance from a legal point of view, is hardly appropriate.”

Official data on domestic violence in Russia is not centrally collected so it’s difficult to verify. But state-run news agency RIA Novosti has reported that 40% of serious crimes in Russia are committed in the family, 36,000 women are beaten by their husbands daily, and 12,000 women die yearly as a result of domestic violence — one woman every 44 minutes. </s> Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that decriminalizes some forms of domestic violence, according to state-run news agency Tass.

Dubbed the “slapping law,” it decriminalizes a first offense of domestic violence that does not seriously injure the person, making it a less serious administrative offense.

The punishment carries a fine of up to 30,000 rubles ($507), an arrest up to 15 days, or compulsory community service up to 120 hours.

In cases of repeated assaults, a defendant faces a fine of up to 40,000 rubles ($676), compulsory community service for up to six months, or being held under arrest for up to three months.

More than 85% of legislators in Russia’s Duma approved the bill last month — seen as part of Putin’s drive to appease conservative pushing “traditional family values.”

The bill’s sponsors, including conservative senator Yelena Mizulina, believe the law would simply bring family law into line with reforms passed last summer that loosened punishment for other minor assaults.

Mizulina, a staunch proponent of traditional values, was also the author of Russia’s controversial “gay propaganda law,” which prohibits “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relationships.”

The Russian Orthodox Church, with its emphasis on the traditional family, has also influenced the debate. As have the traditional rules of Russian family life, including the “domostroi,” a centuries-old manual prescribing strict rules of behavior and requiring absolute submission to the head of the family.

Human Rights Watch had urged parliament to reject the law, calling it “dangerous and incompatible with Russia’s international human rights obligations.”

“Passage of this law would be a huge step backward for Russia, where victims of domestic violence already face enormous obstacles to getting help or justice,” Human Rights Watch Russia researcher, Yulia Gorbunova said last month.

Official data on domestic violence in Russia is not centrally collected so it’s difficult to verify. But state-run news agency RIA Novosti has reported that 40% of serious crimes in Russia are committed in the family, 36,000 women are beaten by their husbands daily, and 12,000 women die yearly as a result of domestic violence — one woman every 44 minutes.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin signs into law the decriminalization of domestic violence.