Russia moves to legalize domestic violence

A draft law pending in Russia’s parliament would seriously weaken protections against domestic violence, Human Rights Watch said today. Parliament should reject the law as 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 Yulia Gorbunova, Russia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The domestic violence bill would reduce penalties for abusers and put victims’ lives at even greater risk.”

The amendments would decriminalize a first offense of family violence that does not cause serious harm requiring hospital treatment. Only violence that leads to serious injuries like broken bones or a concussion would remain criminalized. The law would apply to violence against any family member, including women and children. Abusers, if found guilty, would face a minimal fine, up to 15 days’ administrative arrest, or compulsory community service.

The draft law is scheduled for a second reading in parliament on January 25, 2017.



The proposed law contrasts starkly with recent steps to confront domestic violence in Russia. In July 2016, parliament adopted amendments criminalizing violence against one’s relatives. Some members contended then that it would have a negative impact on “traditional family values.” The politically influential leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church criticized the law as lacking “moral justification and legal grounds.”

Senator Yelena Mizulina, who led a failed attempt to halt the 2016 amendments, said publicly she believes women “don’t take offense when they see a man beat his wife” and that “a man beating his wife is less offensive than when a woman humiliates a man.” Mizulina also said that Russian law should support family traditions that are “built on the authority of the parents’ power,” and that parents should be allowed to hit their children.

Mizulina and others introduced the bill to reverse the July 2016 law.

“Contending that beating a relative is a manifestation of ‘family values’ is shameful,” Gorbunova said. “Victims are the ones who need protection, not the abusers.”

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