New Legal Measures in Russia Lower Age for Terrorism Charges Against Minors Amid Rising Sabotage Cases

On Monday, President Vladimir Putin approved a set of legal reforms aimed at increasing penalties for acts of sabotage, which have significantly risen following the large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The new regulations lower the age threshold for holding minors accountable for sabotage or terrorism from 16 to 14. Additionally, they eliminate statutes of limitations for crimes related to sabotage, prohibit courts from issuing suspended sentences for such offenses, and restrict parole eligibility until at least 75% of the sentence has been served.

Furthermore, individuals attempting to recruit minors for acts of sabotage or terrorism could now face life imprisonment.

Lawmakers, who nearly unanimously passed the amendments last week, framed the modifications as protective measures against the potential recruitment of Russian youth by foreign intelligence agencies.

However, critics, including some members of the Communist Party, have raised concerns that the legislation may end up criminalizing children rather than effectively preventing radicalization.

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin defended the reforms as «humane,» emphasizing that they protect minors from being «pulled into» networks of sabotage.

Since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine over three years ago, Russian courts have convicted at least 158 minors on charges related to terrorism and sabotage, with many cases involving arson attacks on military recruitment centers and railway infrastructure.

Law enforcement officials indicate that some teenagers have been motivated by financial incentives from those orchestrating the attacks.

An increasing number of minors have also faced imprisonment or placement in juvenile facilities for expressing opposition to the war.