MOSCOW, June 6 (RAPSI) – The State Duma Committee on state building and legislation on Monday recommended the lower house of parliament to pass a bill specifying criminal responsibility for battery for people having conviction for other crimes committed with the use of force, according to a statement published on the official State Duma website.

Currently, criminal punishment for beating is envisaged for persons who were subject to administrative liability for similar actions when the term has not yet expired. However, previous convictions for similar actions are not taken into consideration. Thus, if a person commits a repeated offence, he or she will be again subject to administrative penalties.

The new bill addresses recommendations the Constitutional Court has given to the current legislation, according to the Committee’s Chair Pavel Krasheninnikov.

The initiative sets criminal liability for battery or other violent actions that resulted in physical pain but not led to serious health problems. 

Repeated beating cases will be punished with community service for up to a year, restriction of liberty for up to a year or detention for up to six months.

Amendments are proposed to the Criminal Code of Russia.