Stavropol Territory: paedophilia case of Mikhailovsk City Duma Deputy sent to court

The criminal case initiated against a Duma Deputy of the Municipality Formation Mikhailovsk, accused of 21 sexual crimes against underage girls, was sent to the court.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed at the press service of the prosecutor's office of the Stavropol Territory that this fact was stated today by Sergey Dubrovin, Head of the Department of the Russian Investigatory Committee for the Stavropol Territory, at a plenary session of the Public Board created under the Department.

"The Duma Deputy of the Municipality Formation of the Mikhailovsk City is accused of sexual relations with three girls under 16 years of age and sexual abuse (Articles 134 and 135 of the Russian Criminal Code, respectively)," runs the official statement of Ekaterina Danilova, senior assistant of the head of the Stavropol Investigatory Department.

The investigation believes proved 21 episodes of Deputy's sexual contacts with the victims for money. Currently, the criminal case with the approved indictment has been sent to the court for consideration on the merits.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent could not yet contact the defendant's advocates.

Svetlana Adamenko, Children's Ombudsman under the Governor of Stavropol Territory, believes that paedophilia today has seized the entire country; and as for the Stavropol Territory, in 2009 alone nearly a thousand children were recognized as victims in the course of criminal proceedings, 35 children died from violence, including from sexual abuse.

"The statistics is within the average Russian level, but this shouldn't calm us, because such cases, unfortunately, happen. And the society is outraged with what happens," Ms Adamenko told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In her opinion, the country should strengthen the punitive measures against abusers; however, the issue is progressing too slowly.

"The measures should be as follows: maximum prison terms, no early conditional relief, and, perhaps, which is more and more spoken now by rights defenders about, application of forced chemical castration. After getting at large such persons shall remain under permanent control; the world knows this sort of practice. According to statistics, 90 percent of offenders commit repeated crimes. In no case, they shall be given another chance," Svetlana Adamenko said.

"If a person was punished under an article on violence against children, he shall be never admitted to work with children. Of course, the laws shall be toughened, but not only this. We've analyzed the cases of violence against children in the Stavropol Territory; and the most insulting is that they are committed to a greater extent where children should be most protected - in families; including sexual violence," she added.

Svetlana believes that we must teach children and parents to be careful and to be able to say "no". "We publish special information memos and brochures. Also, on November 11, 2010, here, in the Territory, we passed a law on additional safeguards to minors, recognized as victims in criminal proceedings. They will receive free legal defence and mandatory psychological help, which they often need more. This Law of the Stavropol Territory is the only one in the country. I think that a similar law should be passed at the federal level either," said Svetlana Adamenko.