State Duma adopts law that damage caused by terrorists shall be compensated by their relatives

The State Duma of the Russian Federation has adopted on the second and third readings the law on strengthening measures to combat terrorism. The law provides the possibility for compensation for the damage caused by actions of terrorists at the expense of their family members. Besides, the law provides punishment of up to 20 years of imprisonment for creation of terrorist community and training terrorists.

The document provides for compensation for damages caused as a result of terror act, including moral damage, "at the expense of the person who committed it, and at the expense of his/her close relatives, persons in blood (legal) relationship with him/her, and other persons, whose lives, health and well-being are dear to him/her because of the current personal relationships."

The law also criminalizes responsibility for organization of terrorist community and training terrorists in camps. Persons who create a terrorist organization and terrorist community will be punished by 15-20 years of imprisonment with a fine of up to one million roubles.

It should be noted that experts have different opinions on the law. For example, Konstantin Sivkov, Doctor of Military Sciences, First Vice-President of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, believes that the law will act as a deterrent. In turn, advocate Igor Trunov believes that the law creates schemes for abuse, since it stipulates a sort of "presumption of guilt."