MOSCOW, December 14 (RAPSI) – The State Duma has passed in the third and final reading a bill toughening punishment for recruiting terrorists up to life sentence.

The bill is aimed to tighten counteracting financing and organizing terrorist and extremist activities. Crimes related to such financing or any form of inducing people to commit crimes of terrorist nature may result in penalties ranging from fines of up to 700,000 rubles (nearly $12,000) to life sentence.

Currently, punishment for recruiting terrorists may only reach as high as 10 years in prison.

The bill also extensively defines “terrorism propaganda” term. Committing this crime would be punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

Amendments are proposed to the Russian Criminal Code.