MOSCOW, December 4 (RAPSI) – Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova believes decriminalization of domestic battering was a mistake, the ombudsman’s press service has told RAPSI.

Moskalkova has again called for adoption of a law on combatting family violence, according to the statement.

In March, the ombudsman insisted on a need to draft and adopt legislation to fight against domestic violence. Moskalkova stands for a complex approach to the problem and thinks it is necessary to take measures to prevent family violence, her representative said earlier during a round table discussion of the results of adopting the battery decriminalization law. 

In July 2016, the State Duma voted for softening penalty for a number of offences, including battery, threat of homicide or injury, malicious evasion from payment of alimony, use of forged documents.   

In February 2017, President Vladimir Putin signed a bill partially decriminalizing domestic violence into law. The document stipulates that offenders should face administrative penalty instead of a criminal probe. Under the law, battery of family members that does not cause bodily harm and is not repeated would not result in criminal punishment. Battery was equated to minor assault punishable by a 30,000-ruble ($530) fine, 15 days in detention, or 120 hours of community service.