Lawmakers from Russia’s ruling United Russia party have proposed stiffer penalties for protest organizers and participants, including a steep increase in the maximum fine and sentencing of violators to community service.
Under their proposal, the maximum fine for the administrative offence would increase from 2,000 rubles ($70) to 100,000 rubles ($3,300), while administrative arrest - currently up to 15 days in jail - would be replaced by community service ranging from 20 to 200 hours, said Alexander Sidyakin, the author of the proposal and the United Russia party member who submitted the bill to the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament.
“If there is an appropriate alternative to custody, the court will not put them [protesters] behind bars, but will set them to work pushing a broom,” Sidyakin said.
The politician said that “if violators receive substantial fines and are put to work, there would be no false illusions concerning the pseudo heroism of detainees.”
Russia faced a wave of protests following the December parliamentary elections which were allegedly rigged in favor of the United Russia party. The rallies continued after March 4 presidential elections that brought to power the current Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
