&host=www.rt.com&uri=/news/medvedev-demands-tougher-punishment/&via=1.1 204.160.103.13:80 (Footprint 4.8/FPMCP)&ua=CCBot/1.0 (+http://www.commoncrawl.org/bot.html))
Medvedev demands tougher punishment for mafia
Published: 07 September, 2009, 14:12
Edited: 12 December, 2009, 18:51
TAGS: Crime, Medvedev, Russia, Law
Punishment should be tougher for members of criminal gangs in Russia, especially their leaders, said President Dmitry Medvedev, who met with the country's internal minister to discuss a draft criminal law.
The legislation proposes increasing jail terms by up to 20 years or even life for heads of organized criminal groups, Inferfax news agency reports.
“I would like to call the attention of your law enforcement colleagues and you. There will be major changes in the description of criminal groups and stricter punishment of crime lords,” the President said.
The amendments have been discussed at several conferences, Dmitry Medvedev said, and the debates made the Russian authorities change their approach towards the issue.
“For instance, individuals who operate in the background but coordinate the activity of criminal groups must be punished more strictly,” he explained.
The President believes the stricter punishment of organizers will increase the efficiency of law enforcement.
Intenal Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev confirmed that the amendments are of prime importance for his ministry and for the country as a whole.
“Plenty of criminal groups have been exposed in recent years. As a rule, only perpetrators are tried, and organizers either stay unnoticed or receive a suspended sentence,” the minister said.
“We have been expecting the amendments for a long time. Judging by the police work, this is the correct way to suppress organized crime,” he added.
The draft will be debated later by the country’s State Duma.
07.09.2009, 13:19
Investigation into politician’s murder resumedA criminal court in St. Petersburg has re-launched proceedings in the case of murdered Russian politician Galina Starovoytova. The investigation says there are new and important leads. |
07.09.2009, 14:18
2 comments
Alleged nationalists on trial after defendant murderA Moscow court has convened over the case of a gang, dubbed the Black Hawks, accused of brutally attacking two students on the city’s metro in May last year. |
The Washington politicians passed a law to crack down on the Italian mafia in the United States in 1970 called RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act). The ironic thing is that recently, the Federal prosecutors have used the law to go after corrupt politicians and give them longer prison sentences. We have quite a few corrupt politicians over here in America, especially at the local government level. It is surprising, since they can live comfortable lives without stealing from the public, and the penalties for public corruption can now be quite severe. Plus, the American public is in a very hostile mood, due to the Wall Street bailout with their tax money. You don't want to go to trial over here right now for anything. Lately, the Federal prosecutors are making very good progress. One of our former Governors is nearing release, after serving nearly 10 years in prison. Russia will never realize its' full potential without crushing organized crime. Mr. Medvedev will need extensive lifelong protection, as will his relatives, should he succeed in going after them.