On February 27, 2002, the Federation Council of the RF supported the amendment to Article 37 of the RF Criminal Code that would expand the right of citizens to self-defence in the event of criminal attacks. If the attack is life-threatening, the attacker may be harmed through self-defence. The draft law, initiated by deputies of the Duma from the Yabloko faction Sergei Ivanenko and Igor Artemyev, obtained 113 votes "for", 13 votes "against", while 10 members of the Federation Council abstained. Earlier, on February 8, 2002, the draft law was adopted at third reading by the State Duma.

The authors of the amendment think that it is difficult for a person in an extreme situation when his life is in danger to commensurate his actions with the nature of the attacker's actions, and the value of human life is so great that any actions undertaken in self-defence may be considered lawful. The Committee for Judicial and Legal Issues of the Federation Council reached the same conclusion: "The circumstances of an attack involving violence that is life-threatening to the intended victim or involving a threat of such violence, require a momentary reaction to such an attack, therefore it is difficult to measure at once the limits of necessary defence."

In addition adoption of this amendment will make it possible to revise thousands of sentences unjustly issued against past victims.

The law will come into force after signing by the President.