Russian Parliament to Toughen Punishment for Corruption in Defense Industry

15.03.2012 The State Duma [lower chamber of Russian parliament] may increase maximum penalty for corruption in defense industry from 2 up to 12 years of imprisonment, reported press service of MP Irina Yarovaya, the head of parliamentary anti-corruption committee who had already prepared appropriate amendments to articles 204 and 290 of Russian Criminal Code.

Presently, the draft bill was addressed to the Government and Supreme Court for review, reports ITAR-TASS.

"The initiative suggests to establish maximum liability for abusive practice and corruption in the area of defense industry", explained the Member of Parliament. "It is apparent that illegal actions in defense industry are associated with damage to national security. So, liability for such crimes must be proportional", she said.

According to the head of parliamentary committee, tightening of criminal sanctions will bear upon those officials "who determine contractors for state defense order, and those who perform administrative functions in organizations executing state defense order".

"Today's sanction of Article 204 provides up to 2 years of imprisonment, but after adoption of the amendments this term would grow to 12 years with the fine 50 times as large as a bribe sum", warned Mrs. Yarovaya. "Sanction of Article 290 for bribery will be toughened almost fivefold as well", she said.

Earlier on, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin wrote in his article on national security that punishment for violations in the area of state defense order must be considerably toughened.

In fact, he repeated recent statement of vice premier Rogozin who offered to equate corruption to treason. "We will decisively suppress corruption in defense industry and armed forces, steadily following the unshunnable punishment principle. Corruption in the national security is a sort of treason", wrote Putin.