MOSCOW, November 10 (RAPSI) – Chairman of Russia’s Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights Mikhail Fedotov on Friday proposed to introduce a 6-year prison sentence for serious crimes against animals, the Council’s press service told RAPSI.

Earlier, a group of lawmakers submitted a bill on prison terms of up to 5 years for animal abuse to the State Duma.

Fedotov backed the bill toughening punishment for cruelty to animals. However, the Human Rights Council’s chairman noted that the document requires improvement. There is a need for ranking legal components of crimes against animals, he said.

Animal abuse and animal murder, as well as hooligan motives and sadistic forms must not be confused, the advisory body’s chair added. According to Fedotov, sadistic cruelty to animals resulted in injury or death of an animal is to be punished with 6 years in prison as a serious crime.