In Russia, battery is a criminal offense, according to CTV News. But 20 percent of Russians think it is alright to hit your spouse or child.
In a move to accommodate many conservative voters, members of the lower house of Parliament have given their initial approval to legislation that would eliminate criminal liability in cases of domestic violence. The bill has a clause that limits the abuse to stopping short of doing bodily harm or committing rape.
The draft legislation is up for a second reading in the Duma on Wednesday, where it can be changed. If it passes this stage, it goes on to a final reading that will undoubtedly lead to its approval. From the Duma, the bill would go to the upper house, and the Associated Press reports that this body is largely a rubber stamp body, and then it will end up on Vladimir Putin’s desk.
There is not much data on domestic violence in Russia, but Interior Ministry statistics show that 40 percent of all violent crime in the country is committed in the family setting. In 2013, it has been reported that over 9,000 women were killed in incidents of domestic violence.
The bill came about after a Supreme Court ruling last summer that would decriminalize battery as long as it did not inflict bodily harm but would retain criminal charges if someone was accused of inflicting battery on a family member. Conservatives objected, saying a parent spanking a child would get prison time, while a neighbor striking your spouse or child would be fined.
According to Fox News, during Putin’s annual press conference late last year, a journalist pressed him about the court ruling. “If the father spanks his child for a good reason as a means of education, a traditional Russian one, he will be sentenced to two years in prison — and if a neighbor does this, he will get away with a fine!”
Putin replied that “it’s better not to spank children and refer to some traditions,” but then said, “We should not go overboard with it (punishment for battery). It’s not good, it harms families.”
The legislation would make the battery of a family member punishable by a fine of not less than 30,000 rubles ($500) or a 15-day arrest.
One of the bill’s co-authors, Olga Batalina, said last week the penalty for the battery of a spouse should be lenient for acts of violence “committed in an emotional conflict, without malice, without grave consequences.”
“Battery doesn’t even involve grave bodily harm. We’re only talking about bruises, scratches, which is bad, too, of course,” Batalina said. This comment didn’t go over too well with many lawmakers. “Has anyone tried going around with a bruise for a week?” deputy Oleg Nilov asked Batalina at the hearing. “Does anyone think it’s OK?”
