Russia: Amendment decriminalises domestic violence if it does not cause serious injury

Allies of Russia Vladimir Putin president failed to be approved by the Russian parliament the draft of an amendment under which will reduce the penalty for domestic violence, which according to the proponents of the measure will contribute to the state to less interfere in family matters, but according to war will encourage domestic violence.

Asked about domestic violence during a press conference last month, Putin had noted that although not in favor of parents to hit their children, the authorities should not interfere in family cases if there is good reason.

"We can not be crazy. Is harmful ultimately destroys the family, "he explained. "The arbitrary interference in family interior can not be tolerated," added the Russian president.

The amendment, which was adopted by the Duma lower house of Russia in the first reading the principle, will convert beating family member to misdemeanor criminal offense in those cases not caused serious injury.

"This law calls be acquitted tyrants inside the house," complained Maria Mojave, the Executive Director of "Sisters' center, which offers assistance to victims of domestic violence. The message that sends this amendment is' let us not punish anyone who beats his family members, simply because it has the right to do that, "explained she spoke to Reuters news agency.

A rapporteur amendment, Olga Batalina, member of the United Russia party of Putin insisted that society wants to protect the right of parents to impose discipline on their children.

"Do you consider it appropriate to force two years imprisonment to a mother who is a single parent family and grows as teen son imposes corporal punishment because it stole or ran away?" Said Batalina during interview with Reuters.

Supporters of the amendment say that anyone who causes serious injury could yet be referred to criminal justice.

To become state law, the article must be approved in two more readings and also get the green light of the Council of Federation, the upper house of Russia. The next reading will be the day after tomorrow Wednesday.

Each year it is estimated that about 14,000 women die in Russia because of the violence of their husbands or others close to them, according to the latest UN report on the phenomenon, which had been released in 2010.

The 17 years that is the political and state leadership of Russia, Putin oversaw the embrace of the state with the socially conservative Russian Orthodox Church and the discharge of the various liberal ideas, which equated to an effort by the West to impose its own values Russian society. Emblematic in this respect was the law of 2013 which outlawed the "promotion" of homosexuality in children.

The church says it wants to reduce state interference in family life.

Marina Pisklakova-Parker, director of "Anna" center, which provides assistance to victims of domestic violence, said that last year the staff has received 21,000 requests for assistance on the part of women who suffered domestic violence.

At the same, if the problem is left unchecked, domestic violence of the kind that decriminalized the amendment are threatening to escalate into much more serious attacks causing serious injury.

Last month the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation added the organization of the list of NGOs that are considered "foreign agents", which means they will be subject to further checks by the authorities and will be difficult in the future to collect funding.