MOSCOW, July 16 (RAPSI) - Alexander Kurdyumov, a State Duma lawmaker from the Liberal Democratic Party, has introduced a bill according to which adult beggars asking for money with little children present face up to six years in prison, Izvestia reported on Thursday.

According to the newspaper, the bill is expected to pass this fall. The bill has already been approved by the legal department of the Russian Government. 

Currently, it is against the law to involve minors in begging. However, the law does not protect children’s rights who are sometimes used by beggars due to their age or health issues, the newspaper cites Kurdyumov.

Kurdyumov believes that a new section in the Criminal Code will allow the prosecution of professional beggars who involve children in their approach. Currently, police have to release beggars if they cannot prove the involvement of minors in the unlawful activity.

According to the Interior Ministry, the number of criminal cases opened pursuant to Article 151 of the Criminal Code (Involvement of minors in anti-social activity) is falling every year, due to faulty legislation. While in 2012, some 272 criminal cases were opened, in 2013 there were 262 and only 246 in 2014. The Interior Ministry notes that the current law does not have any clear regulation with regards to beggars with small children. Usually, they tell the police that they brought the child along because there was nobody to take care of the child at home.