Rostov residents support toughening of punishment for false reports on bombs

On March 14, the Chief Department for the Rostov Region of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announced the institution of a criminal case under Article "A knowingly false report on a terror act" against a 22-year-old man detained in Rostov-on-Don.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 5, in Rostov-on-Don, all schoolchildren were sent home in connection with information about bombs planted in several schools. No bombs were found, and on March 7, it became known about the detention of a 22-year-old Rostov resident, suspected of a false report about bombing. According to the preliminary information, the man was in a state of alcoholic intoxication.

Alexander Ermolaev, a father of a Rostov schoolboy, says he feels "normally" about evacuation because of reports about bombing. "The police and teachers do their job, and I believe there is nothing to be afraid of. May be, it is worth toughening the punishment for such false reports to avoid them happening," the man told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

To combat cases of phone terrorism, it is not enough only to tighten the punishment, but it is also necessary to involved the principle of public reprimand, believes Kamilzhan Kalandarov, the director of the Human Rights Institute.

"To classify such acts as hooliganism is excessively mild. This is terrorism, and acts of such people should be assessed appropriately," Kamilzhan Kalandarov said.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.