MOSCOW, September 29 (RAPSI) – Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to introduce changes to the State Duma toughening officials’ liability for unlawful persecution of businesses, RIA Novosti reported on Thursday.

Such changes are expected to be submitted to the State Duma in the near future.

Earlier working group on monitoring and analysis of enforcement practices in the sphere of business proposed to strengthen the liability of law enforcement entities for unlawful persecution of businesses.

Punishment for knowingly charging an innocent person with a crime is proposed to be increased from five to seven years in prison. Additionally, toughened liability is proposed to be introduced not only for actions related to charging a person with grave crimes but also those actions that cause a large-scale damage (exceeding 1.5 million rubles ($23,000)).

It is noted that criminal liability is also in place for unlawfully launching a criminal case based on material or personal interest, which led to cancellation of entrepreneur activity or causing large-scale damage, being punishable by 5-10 years in prison.