The State Duma proposed introducing liability for involving children in drug trafficking.

      20 November 2025 16:17 Society

      Deputies of the State Duma from the LDPR faction have submitted a bill to the Supreme Court and the Government of the Russian Federation that provides for tougher criminal penalties for involving minors in illegal drug trafficking. The initiative envisages punishment of up to 20 years' imprisonment for such actions. This was reported by 360.ru.

      The bill's authors pointed to the absence in the Criminal Code of a specific offense that would provide for punishment for recruiting children into drug trafficking. In their view, current sanctions do not correspond to the severity and social danger of this crime.

      In accordance with the proposed changes, Articles 228 and 228.1 of the Criminal Code will be supplemented with new provisions that provide for separate offenses committed with the involvement of minors. Penalties for such crimes will range from 10 to 20 years' imprisonment.

      LDPR leader Leonid Slutsky emphasized that persons who use children to distribute drugs should receive punishment commensurate with the severity of the harm caused.

      It should be recalled that on 17 November a law came into force in Russia tightening liability for sabotage. Now, for involving minors in sabotage activities one can receive a life sentence.

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