|
State Duma turns down bill for punishment of prostitution
November 21, 2004
Moscow - The State Duma has turned down a proposed bill on Friday that
envisages criminal punishment for prostitution. Only 78 against the necessary
226 votes supported the proposed bill.
The bill initiated by the Sakhalin region suggests that the Criminal Code
should be amended in part that " sexual intercourse out of wedlock for purposes
of gain” should be punished by law with a fine from 500- to 800 minimal wages
and 150-200 hours of corrective labor administered as penalty.
Nevertheless, the Duma profile committee has objected to the proposed
amendment. Deputy Committee chairman Port Schelisch said the Russian Criminal
Code has an article already that envisages punishment for prostitution and
organization of the criminal business.
Alexei Mitrofanov, member of the LDPR bloc, declared that "prostitution is a
social evil that no one can eradicate. Neither ancient Rome, nor Greece or the
Soviet Union managed to do that,” Mitrofanov said. He went as far as saying
that prostitution should be legalized as a branch of business, while
administering criminal punishment might give an additional impetus to the
development of the illegal business.If the prostitution is legalized the "
business" might fetch profits worth five million roubles a day to the state
treasury, the MP said.
Comment on this story,
click here.
Copyright 1999-2004, Itar-Tass. All rights reserved. No content may
be reproduced in whole or part without written permission. Please contact
us via the link below for re-print and syndication policies.
|
|
Moscow
deputy: Legalize prostitution 11-15-2004
|
