Anatoly Vyborny: “Legislation of responsibility for the rehabilitation of Nazism is on agenda”

A member of the State Duma Committee for Security and Anti-Corruption Anatoly Vyborny told Vestnik Kavkaza how to change the anti-terrorism legislation of Russia.

-    What laws does the Russian Federation have today to prevent or punish extremist and terrorist crimes?

-    Today, quite a powerful and good legal basis has formed in Russia. It allows preventive work to be effectively carried out and prevent, detect, prosecute perpetrators involved in extremist or terrorist activities. Certainly, the main laws are the Federal Law ‘‘On Opposing Extremist Activity", "On Opposing Terrorism" and "Terrorism Financing". In addition, in recent years we quite strongly tightened criminal liability regarding this and expanded the range of persons who may be involved in extremist activity or terrorism. It is enough to say that we have introduced an aggravating circumstance of committing murder for political reasons: imprisonment for life. The qualifying feature allows to institute criminal proceedings for financing of extremist/terrorist activity. We increased the term of punishment. For terrorism is also a lifelong punishment.

-    What are new laws in the sphere?

-    In recent years, at the time of the VI convocation of the State Duma, a number of bills were adopted that also strengthened and expanded the list of persons against whom criminal proceedings can be instituted, and increased responsibility in this regard. For example, today we have excluded such a thing as a "statute of limitations" for the commission of terrorist or extremist activity. We also excluded the possibility of appointing a court sentence below the lower limit of the Criminal Code. If there are at least 15 years, so the sentence cannot be 10 years imprisonment; if there is a lifelong sentence, then it must be entire life for committing terrorism. And a number of other aggravating circumstances that can involve other participants, and those engaged in the financing and organizing of terrorist acts, or in extremist activities.

-    In addition, we have introduced administrative responsibility and, for example, if a court has decided that this organization is extremist, and banned its activities on the territory of the Russian Federation and has suspended operations, but the persons continue their activities, criminal proceedings can be instituted against them: physical persons to financially responsibility, officials to financial responsibility or a fine. For example, a legal person can be involved in an administrative response for the first time, and then in a criminal response.

-    What are new challenges facing legislators and law-enforcement agencies?

-    Today on the agenda we are to discuss issues: to legislate responsibility for the rehabilitation of Nazism and glorification of Nazi war criminals, i.e. the events that have happened in Ukraine. That is, we are constantly developing legislation according to today’s peculiarities. If we see that it is a poison, we immediately take the antidote.

But the best way is to shift the focus to warning and prevention. In this regard, we need to think about it, maybe take the best, for example, from the Soviet Union. Both in schools and military units we had such posts as the Deputy for Political Affairs and Deputy Head of Safety. In my opinion, this matter is very topical today, because schools teach, but don’t bring up. In Soviet times they taught and brought up, because one without the other is impossible. If you have knowledge but no education, it is as detrimental as a man who is well brought up but absolutely without knowledge. It is a good platform for extremists and terrorists. This is the most favorable environment. The is why the focus has shifted to young people. We must protect our young people. They have the right to live in a developed state ruled by lae, regardless of their nationality, religion, social status or racial origin. Every citizen of Russia must understand that he is protected by the state. This state is safe and comfortable for life at all times.