Russian Bill Would Make Domestic Violence Legal
Associated Press
MOSCOW
In Russia, giving ones spouse a slap is nothing extraordinary for many
people. This week, the Russian parliament is expected to take a step closer
toward decriminalizing it altogether.
Battery is a criminal offense in Russia, but nearly 20 percent of Russians
openly say they think it is sometimes OK to hit a spouse or a child. In a
bid to accommodate conservative voters, deputies in the lower house of
parliament have given initial approval to a bill eliminating criminal
liability for domestic violence that stops short of serious bodily harm or
rape.
If the measure passes its second reading in the Duma on Wednesday, when the
draft can be changed, approval in the third and final reading would be a
foregone conclusion. From the Duma, it would proceed to the upper house,
largely a rubber-stamp body, and then to President Vladimir Putins desk.
9,000 deaths in 2013
Data on domestic violence in Russia are obscure, but Interior Ministry
statistics show that 40 percent of all violent crimes in Russia are
committed in family surroundings. In 2013, more than 9,000 women were
reported to have been killed in incidents of domestic violence.
The bill stems from a Supreme Court ruling last summer to decriminalize
battery that doesnt inflict bodily harm, but to retain criminal charges for
those accused of battery against family members. Conservative activists
objected, saying the ruling meant a parent spanking a child could be
punished more harshly than a non-relative striking the child.
FILE - Russian lawmaker Yelena Mizulina speaks during a news conference in
Moscow, Russia, May 30,2011. Mizulina has used her position as the head of
the Committee on Family, Women and Children to author increasingly
conservative laws.
Ultra-conservative lawmaker Yelena Mizulina, who also authored Russias gay
propaganda ban, then introduced the bill to decriminalize domestic
violence.
The bill would make battery on a family member punishable by a fine of less
than 30,000 rubles ($500) or a 15-day arrest.
Domestic violence hotline
The Moscow-based Anna Center foundation, which runs Russias only domestic
violence hotline, received more than 5,000 calls last year. The foundation
says many more calls go unanswered because the line operates only between 7
a.m. and 9 p.m.
The Duma bill is not going to improve the situation to say the least, said
Irina Matvienko, who runs the hotline.
Calls to the Anna Center hotline show that a lot of Russian women initially
dont realize that domestic violence is an offense, Matvienko says.
A survey this month by state-run pollster VTsIOM showed that 19 percent of
Russians say it can be acceptable to hit ones wife, husband or child in
certain circumstances. The nationwide poll by phone of 1,800 people was
done January 13-15. The survey had a margin of error of 2.5 percentage
points.
Russian police are notoriously reluctant to react to domestic violence
calls, which many regard as meddling in family affairs. Prosecutors in
November began investigating a police officer who took a call from a woman
complaining about her boyfriends aggressive behavior. Instead of offering
help, the officer reportedly told the woman that the police would only come
if she got killed. Shortly thereafter, the man beat the woman to death,
prosecutors say.
Petition against the bill
Activist Alyona Popova, whose online petition against the bill has attracted
more than 180,000 signatures, sees the efforts to decriminalize domestic
violence as a continuation of the Kremlins increasingly aggressive policies
after several repressive laws targeting various groups, from foreign-funded
NGOs to gay people.
I think its part of an overall ideology: aggression and violence are on
the rise in society in general since war is everywhere and were surrounded
by enemies, Popova said, referring to the state media narrative that
portrays Russia as a besieged fortress.
Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland earlier this week sent
a letter to the speakers of both houses of Russias parliament, expressing
deep concern at the legislation. Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin dismissed
the letter as an unacceptable attempt to influence parliament.
'We're only talking about bruises'
Olga Batalina, one of the bills co-authors, said in the Duma last week that
the penalty for battery should be lenient for acts of violence committed in
an emotional conflict, without malice, without grave consequences.
Battery doesnt even involve grave bodily harm. Were only talking about
bruises, scratches, which is bad, too, of course, Batalina said.
The comment rattled some lawmakers.
Has anyone tried going around with a bruise for a week? deputy Oleg Nilov
asked Batalina at the hearing. Does anyone think its OK?
There havent been any significant protests against the bill so far.
Activist Popova is not surprised: discussing domestic violence still is
taboo in Russia.
Society is judgmental, she said. It goes like this: youre a bad woman
if you allow this to happen to you, or youre airing dirty laundry and
youre to blame, or its he beats you it means he loves you. And a lot of
people dont want to go public about it.
EM
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