MOSCOW, June 14. /TASS/. Russia’s State Duma (the lower house of parliament) has passed the first reading of a bill equating defection to the enemy in the midst of military activities involving Russia to high treason.

The bill suggests adding another offense to Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code on high treason, describing it as "defecting to the enemy amid an armed conflict, military activities or other activities involving weapons and military equipment in which Russia is taking part." Such charges will bear a penalty of either 12 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to 500,000 rubles ($8,600) and a fine in the amount of the convict’s wages earned up to a three-year period, or a prison term of up to two years without a fine.

Apart from that, Russian citizens will face imprisonment of between 12 and 20 years for participating in military activities in other countries against Russia’s interests.

Punishment for cooperation with foreign intel agencies

Lawmakers suggest adding Article 275.1 to the Russian Criminal Code, which says that "confidential cooperation between a Russian national and a foreign special service, international or foreign organization, or their representatives" will be punishable with a prison term of anywhere from two to eight years and a fine of up to one mln rubles ($17,100) or in the amount of the convict’s wages and other incomes earned in up to three years, or without a fine, with a possible prison term of up to two years.

The bill specifies that it will be applied to activities that don’t fall under the definition of high treason. This kind of cooperation will include "the secret establishment and maintenance of contact" with foreign special services or organizations and their representatives "with the aim of assisting activities clearly targeted against Russia’s security."

At the same time, it will be possible to escape responsibility by voluntarily and promptly informing the relevant state agencies of such cooperation, provided that the person in question did not try to perform the assigned task and did not commit any other crime.

Actions against Russia’s security

According to Article 280.4, which is planned to be added to the Russian Criminal Code, calls for activities against Russia’s security or for obstructing the work of state agencies working to ensure national security will be punishable with a fine of between 100,000 rubles ($1,700) and 500,000 rubles ($8,600) or in the amount of the convict’s wages and other incomes earned in up to three years, or in the amount of the convict’s wages and other incomes earned in one to three years.

Punishment for mercenaries

In addition, the architects of the bill suggest tightening Article 359 of the Russian Criminal Code (mercenary activities). In particular, a mercenary involved in an armed conflict may have to face a prison sentence of anywhere from seven to 15 years. According to the current legislation, mercenaries participating in military activities or an armed conflict face a prison term of anywhere from three to seven years.

Besides, the bill suggests increasing prison terms for those accused of recruiting, training and funding mercenaries and using them in armed conflicts or military activities. These charges will bear a penalty of 12 to 18 years behind bars.