Resolution of the 18th YABLOKO Congress, 10.03.2016
The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation introduced a bill on decriminalisation of Articles 115, 116 (intentional infliction of light injury which has temporarily damaged health or caused an insignificant stable loss of general capacity for work and battery) and Article 119 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (threat of murder or infliction of grave injury to health). According to the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, the following articles must be withdrawn from the criminal legislation and included into the Administrative Violations Code.

Criminal responsibility for these crimes has important preventative nature since it is aimed at prevention of graver crimes encroaching on life and health of people.

Even today, the defects in the procedure of instituting criminal proceedings on these crimes leads to a situation when many victims of domestic and family violence, especially old people, women, children, disabled and homeless people are left alone to face criminals without the aid they need on behalf of the law enforcement.

The situation can be amended by changing the order of initiation the proceedings: cases of light injury and battery must be investigated under private-public, and not just private prosecution.

The transfer of the aforementioned articles from the criminal to the administrative sphere will considerably reduce the security of the persons who need enhanced protection from criminal attacks because of their increased vulnerability.

We are certain that misinterpreted humanism will not protect human rights but lead to even graver violations.

The YABLOKO party urges the State Duma deputies to reject the proposal of the Supreme Court in this part and adopt legal norms aimed at increased protection of children, the elderly, the disabled and women from domestic violence.

Emilia Slabunova,

YABLOKO Chair