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Putin Signs Law Punishing Terrorists' Relatives
04 November 2013 | Issue 5247
President Vladimir Putin signed an anti-terror bill into law on Sunday requiring the relatives of terrorists to pay for the damages caused by their attacks in an unprecedented move that is to quell fears of terrorist acts compromising the safety of the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Under the law, material and moral damages inflicted as a result of a terrorist attack will be compensated "by the perpetrator and his or her family members, relatives, in-laws and other people, whose lives, health and well-being are significant to him or her because of established personal relations," a statement on the government's legal information website said.
The new law stipulates closer scrutiny of the property of relatives and loved ones of people who have "committed a terrorist act," with the goal of verifying whether such money or goods were acquired legally.
The law was submitted by President Putin in September and was approved by the State Duma in late October.
The law also includes measures to criminalize the training of terrorists.
People found guilty of training with the aim of carrying out terrorist activities will now face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and fines of up to 500,000 rubles ($15,700). Anybody found guilty of creating terrorist networks could be sentenced to 20 years behind bars and fines of up to one million rubles.
The new legislation increases penalties for setting up, leading or financing armed groups to up to 10 years. Participation in such groups, including those based abroad, is punishable with up to six years in jail.
The unprecedented law appears to be a response to fears that the spreading insurgency in the North Caucasus could pose a threat to the 2014 Winter Oympics as well as concerns that Russians fighting alongside rebels in Syria could cause problems upon their return to Russia
Source: The Moscow Times
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I've always been of the opinion that the main reason laws and rules are not followed is because the penalty for breaking those rules does not outweigh the benefit of breaking the law. Why not rob that bank if you know the worst thing that can happen to you is 3 square meals a day, a place to sleep, a state funded education, and a chance to see all your friends? Big deal.
Well this one really tickles the sadist authoritarian in me, because one of the incentives to being a suicide bomber is the promise that your family will get paid if you kill yourself, and it effectively removes that incentive. Completely. And this is Russia we're talking about; they're GOING to find out who these people are, and drive their relatives into the poor house. That leaves only selfish reasons like fame and glory as a reason to self-detonate, because you clearly won't be leaving your loved ones better off financially.
And this has me wondering... why couldn't we do something like this HERE? Can you imagine how many people would have sat up and took notice if, after the Boston Marathon Bombings, all of the two bomber's immediate family members were fined out the ass for what happened? Imagine the financial ruin we could have wrought upon Abortion Clinic bombers, Timothy McVeigh, the 9/11 Hijackers.... it's so simple that in it's sheer deviousness that it makes me giggle! You blow up our buildings, we make "The American Dream" go up in smoke for your family. Your grandchildren will be born knowing how to say "do you want fries with that?" MWA HA HA HA!!!
*cough*
Thoughts?
