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Russian cabinet backs bill aiming to lower age of responsibility for sabotage to 14 years

Under Russia’s current Criminal Code, 14-year-olds may face charges for such crimes as murder, extortion, hostage taking and vandalism

MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. The Russian cabinet has supported a bill sponsored by United Russia lawmaker Oleg Garin, which seeks to lower the age of criminal responsibility for sabotage from 16 years to 14 years, according to a copy of the cabinet’s proposed resolution that was obtained by TASS.

"The bill is aimed at improving the criminal law mechanism for countering sabotage activities as a threat to the economic security and defense capability of the Russian Federation," the proposed resolution says. "The cabinet of the Russian Federation supports the bill."

Under Russia’s current Criminal Code, 14-year-olds may face charges for such crimes as murder, extortion, hostage taking and vandalism. The bill would amend the Criminal Code to include sabotage, training for sabotage and being the organizer or member of a sabotage group in the list of such crimes.