Duma decides to abolish punishment for crimes committed "in favor of Russian" in occupied territories of Ukraine

Advocate Street publication drew attention to this, the Medusa informs.

The draft law refers to the actions committed in the territories of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)," "Luhansk People's Republic (LPR)" and the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions until September 30, 2022. This is the date of the Kremlin's formal annexation of Ukrainian territories.

Still, this date is indicated only in one part of the article. So, the publication notes that a literal reading of the draft law does not establish temporary boundaries for refusing criminal prosecution.

In the next part, the draft law contains the following provision:

"It is not a criminal and punishable act, the responsibility established by the normative legal acts of Ukraine, if it contains signs of a crime under the Criminal Code of Russia. Still, it was aimed at protecting the interests of Russia, "DPR," "LPR" or legally protected interests of citizens or organizations of Russia, "DPR," "LPR," the population and organizations of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions."

Lawyer Mykhailo Benyash called this provision "absolutely terrible": "It turns out that a judge can release a person from criminal liability for absolutely any crime. Simply because he considers the action aimed at "protecting the interests of Russia."

The draft law does not explain exactly what "in favor of Russia" means.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands announced its readiness to establish a tribunal for Russia in The Hague.