The Council of Ministers advances a proposal to punish minors who participate in three or more crimes of medium severity with up to eight years in prison. The draft bill was published in the State Duma electronic database and is currently under consideration by lawmakers.
The document outlines that any act described in the first, second, or third part of the article involving a minor who takes part in the commission of three or more crimes of minor or medium gravity should carry a penalty of imprisonment. The proposed range includes a maximum of two years, or up to five to eight years with a restriction of freedom, depending on the specifics of the case. The bill emphasizes that these terms apply once the involvement of a minor in such criminal activity is established and proven, with the severity of the offenses guiding the final sentence.
Particularly, the provision is connected to Article 150 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. At present, the criminal code already imposes penalties for situations where a minor is drawn into a criminal group when serious or especially serious crimes are committed, or when incitement or participation is connected to political, ideological, racial, national, or religious hatred or hostility, or hostility toward any social group. The proposed changes would extend the circumstances under which minors can be held criminally liable by broadening the scope to include additional combinations of offenses and motives.
In addition to the core article, the State Duma has proposed treating the involvement of children in smoking as a criminal matter. The draft suggests extending penalties to include detention for a period of up to six months for offenders who involve minors in smoking activities, reflecting a broader trend toward addressing the participation of minors in harmful or illegal behaviors beyond major criminal acts.
Historically, debates around the handling of minors in criminal contexts have sparked strong opinions among policymakers, educators, and social services. Some opponents worry that overly punitive measures may not address underlying social problems, such as poverty, family instability, or limited access to education and support services. Others argue that stricter penalties for acts involving minors could deter participation in crime and protect larger communities from harm. The current discussion highlights the ongoing struggle to balance accountability with rehabilitation, ensuring that young people have pathways away from crime while upholding public safety and the rule of law. The bill under consideration signals a shift toward clearer consequences for cases where minors are actively involved in repeated offenses, particularly those of medium severity, as part of broader efforts to strengthen the criminal justice framework. [citation: State Duma electronic database]