From Wn.com

Russia’s lower house of parliament passed a bill that softens the punishment for domestic violence on the basis that the state has no business intervening in family life on Friday, according to Al Jazeera.

Activists argue that the law would further inhibit victims of abuse from coming forward and being able to defend themselves though the law moves swiftly through the 450-member parliament with 380 legislators backing it and only three voting against.

“Women don’t often go to the police or the courts regarding their abusive husbands, now there will be even fewer such cases, and the number of murders will increase,” said politician Yury Sinelshchikov.

Amendments in the bill reduce the penalty for violence against spouses and children so long as it’s the first offense and doesn’t cause serious injury, the party responsible would be fined up to 30,000 rubles ($500).

Currently the same offense is defined as battery, punishable up to two years, but the bill needs to be approved by the upper chamber and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law.

-WN.com, Maureen Foody

For more on this story go to: https://article.wn.com/view/2017/01/27/Russian_Parliament_Passes_Controversial_Bill_Easing_Domestic/