From Now On, Russian Women Can Be Beaten

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, signed a controversial legal amendment through which domestic violence is no longer recognized as a crime and its punishment is reduced.

This amendment, which was approved by both houses of the Russian parliament on Tuesday, February 7, and was signed by Putin on the same day, has caused major controversy. Critics say this amendment sends the wrong message in a country where, according to some statistics, one woman is killed every 40 minutes due to domestic violence.

From now on, husbands who beat their wives or children without causing bleeding or bone fractures will only be imprisoned for 15 days or can pay a fine instead of serving this prison sentence. Of course, the condition is that this violence is not repeated more than once a year. Previously, the maximum punishment for this type of crime was 2 years in prison.

Opponents and Supporters

The Guardian reported, citing Alina Popova, a Russian civil activist who launched a campaign against these legal amendments, that she said: “The approval of these amendments would have been appropriate if a law was enacted to end domestic violence.”

She added that the approval of the amendment in this manner shows that there is no intention to address the problem of domestic violence in Russia.

However, supporters of the amendment have a different opinion. Olga Batalina, a Russian parliament representative who participated in drafting the amendment, said about this: “The issue is not about legalizing beating. Everyone knows that beating is not a good act. But the issue is about proper punishment for offenders and there should be a difference between perpetrators of family violence and non-family violence.”

Others also say the purpose of the amendment is to protect the family institution, which traditions in Russia consider sacred. For example, Dmitry Smirnov, a Russian priest and head of the special committee of Orthodox priests on family affairs, said in a television interview: “The government’s interference in family affairs is an idea imported from the West. Some things that happen in Northern Europe, even Hitler wouldn’t dream of.”

Praising Wife Beating

Last week, the magazine “Komsomolskaya Pravda” published an article in its “Science” section about “the benefits of beating one’s wife.” The article states: “Recent scientific research shows that wives of angry men have the right to boast about the injuries they received as a result of being beaten. Biological scientists say that beating women has positive benefits, including giving birth to male children.”

Popova says that when she stood alone in front of parliament to protest the amendment, many people cursed at her. Some accused her of receiving money from Western countries. Some also told her that women deserve to be beaten.

Source: Al Arabia