MOSCOW, October 30 (RAPSI) – Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev proposed introducing liability for those who promote cruelty toward and the abuse of animals .

The Russian police head reported that in 2012, nearly 300 criminal cases were initiated on grounds of animal cruelty, and 148 reached the courts. In the first half of 2013, 124 such cases were under active investigation.

“As of now, there’s no criminal liability in Russia for promoting animal cruelty. If we don’t establish preventive measures, and evaluate such propaganda from legal point of view, we will continue to combat the symptom and not the cause,” – Kolokoltsev said on Wednesday in his address to the Upper House of parliament.

Presently, there is an “animal abuse” provision in the Russian Criminal Code, according to the terms of which, parties found guilty of conducting violence against animals can be sentenced to up to six months in detention.