MOSCOW, December 21 (RAPSI) – The State Duma adopted in the first reading on Wednesday a bill authorizing courts to set aside a real prison sentence for pregnant women and new parents during delivering a judgement.

The Russian Constitution reads that family, motherhood and childhood are under the protection of the state; childcare and child-rearing are equal right and duty of parents, an explanatory note to the bill says.

Currently, courts may set aside a real prison sentence for expectant mothers, women who have children aged up to 14 years and single dads, until their child reaches the age of 14.

Under the bill, courts would be entitled to delay service of punishment not only at the stage of its execution but at the stage of sentencing.

The bill does not conflict with provisions of the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty and other international treaties signed by Russia.