Putin signs law weakening punishments for police officers who commit crimes

President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed a law that weakens penalties for police officers who commit crimes

The new law invalidates a section of Russia’s Criminal Code that designates “committing a crime as an employee of an internal affairs department” an aggravated offense.

The State Duma deputies who drafted the corresponding piece of legislation called the original Criminal Code article “discriminatory.” Alexander Karlin, the deputy head of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, said that “preserving this norm violates the principle of equality before the law.” 

Senator Elena Mizulina says that employees of internal affairs departments are already subject to harsher punishments for crimes because of their professional positions.