MOSCOW, September 20 (RAPSI) – The Government Commission for Legislative Drafting Activities has approved bills aimed to improve the status of convicted mothers in Russian prisons, the Cabinet’s official website announced on Tuesday.

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 bills, courts would be entitled to delay service of sentence not only at the stage of its execution but at the stage of delivering judgment.

Bills would also allow transfer of convicted pregnant women only if there is a corresponding medical report and in the company of a healthcare worker if it is necessary.

Draft laws also propose to accord certain convicts permission to live and work outside of a penal colony under surveillance of its administration six months before the end of the term.

Moreover, convicted women, who have a child aged up to 14 years or a disabled child, as well as single fathers would gain the right to four meetings with their children per year outside the territory of prison. This right would not apply to people convicted of crimes against minors.