MOSCOW, July 8 (RAPSI) – Several bills on the protection of Russia’s territorial integrity have been drafted for the implementation of the amended Constitution, a statement on the United Russia party’s website reads citing Chair of the Committee on State Building and Legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov as having said.

The Constitution’s Part 21 of the Article 67 sets that the Russian Federation ensures protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Actions aimed at the alienation of territories and calls to such actions are prohibited.

To develop this provision three bills amending Russia’s Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Code on Administrative Offenses and Law On Countering Extremist Activity have been drafted, according to Krasheninnikov.

The bill amending the Law On Countering Extremist Activity has been already submitted to the State Duma. It specifies the terms of the law qualifying violation of Russia’s integrity as extremism.

Amendments to Russia’s Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code have been sent to the Cabinet of Ministers and the Supreme Court for comments. The draft law amending the Code on Administrative offenses has been sent to the government.

The MP reminded the Criminal Code has provisions envisaging responsibility for public calls for actions aimed to breach the territorial integrity of the country. 

The bills propose to change conditions of bringing to the criminal responsibility in accordance of this article. They set administrative prejudice and violators will face criminal punishment after the second violation of fines from 200,000 to 400,000 rubles ($2,800 – 5,600) or imprisonment for up to 4 years.

First-time calls to breaching territorial integrity of Russia will be punishable by administrative fines ranging from 30,000 to 60,000 rubles ($280 - 840) for individuals, 60,000 – 100,000 rubles ($840 – 1,400) for officials and 200,000 – 300,000 rubles ($2,800 – 4,200) for companies. Increased fines are stipulated for such calls made through media or Internet.

Moreover, as the Constitution fixes strict ban on alienation of Russia’s territories and other actions directed to the state’s territorial integrity, the Criminal Code it to be amended by a new article named “Violation of Russia’s territorial integrity”. The amendments envisage prison terms from 6 to 10 years for this crime.