MOSCOW, September 25 (Itar-Tass) — The State Duma has been working on amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation so as to enact fines worth 100,000-200,000 roubl and administer a prison term up to three years for offending believers' feelings, First Deputy chairman of the Duma Commitee on Public Associations and Religious Organizations Sergei Popov said on Tuesday. Popov is one of the initiators of the proposed bill.
Popov explained that the new bill they intend to include in the Criminal Code envisages punishment for offending citizens' religious beliefs and feelings and vandalizing objects of religious worship. "We are planning to impose fines worth 100,000-200,000 roubles per person depending on an extent of the harm done. We believe that a maximum prison term for such offences should be up to three years, Popov said. Punishment in the form of corrective labor is one of the measures suggested, Popov said.
Above all, punishment should be administered to those who hurt believers' feelings, vandalizing objects of religious worship of spiritual value for every religious confession and religious community - church buildings, icons, books and other objects of religious worship, Popov said.
The Duma is to vote on the proposed bill after 5.00 pm Tuesday.