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Number of convicts drops by 22% in Russia in past five years, Putin says

According to the Russian leader, measures are being taken to humanize criminal responsibility for economic crimes

MOSCOW, November 29. /TASS/. The number of convicts in Russia has decreased by a fifth in the past five years, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

Addressing the Russian Congress of Judges, Putin said, "The Russian Supreme Court has consistently been moving toward using a broader range of alternatives to prison terms, and preventive measures not involving detention. Between 2016 and 2021, the total number of convicted people fell by 22% and the number of people sentenced to jail dropped by 19%."

According to the Russian leader, measures are being taken to humanize criminal responsibility for economic crimes. "In the first nine months of this year, judges considered 5,000 such cases against 5,500 persons, 3,500 people were convicted and criminal cases against another 2,000 people were dismissed. Actual imprisonment was given to 9% of convicts. Well, those are real figures," the president said. During the given period, 262 people were incarcerated, Putin added.

The community of judges is playing an important role in strengthening the country’s business climate, the Russian head of state said. "Cases against entrepreneurs that are often complicated and require a thorough investigation are always on judges’ radar," he added. Putin highlighted the significance of court decisions in the economy, saying that the performance of companies, corporations and large teams depends on them.