MOSCOW, July 24 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) – A bill toughening penalties for corruption-related crimes and expanding the definition of bribery reached the lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, Anatoly Vyborny, Deputy Chariman of the State Duma’s security and anticorruption committee, told journalists on Monday.

According to Vyborny, the bill is to be examined by the State Duma in the autumn; however, it is planned that earlier it should be publicly discussed at a range of forums.  

The bill envisages longer term of limitation as concerns bribery, as well as tougher punishment for this crime. Bribing of Russian and foreign arbiters settling disputes between individuals and legal entities is to become a criminal offence, whereas abuse of authority on the part of arbiters is to be criminalized, and they are to hold the same responsibility before the law as notaries and auditors. Besides, the definition of bribery is to be expanded to any form of undue advantages, including immaterial ones, like employment favoritism or undue assistance to students seeking education in prestigious establishments, that meaning that such services are to be criminalized as well.

According to experts addressing the press-conference, bribery-related term of limitation is to be increased from 2 to 6 years, whereas proposed punishment is to make 4 years in prison as compared with the current 3-year term.