Russian President Vladimir Putin signed off on legislation Tuesday that decriminalizes certain forms of domestic abuse, downgrading “violence that doesn’t cause significant injury” to a misdemeanor.
The new law will decriminalize spousal and child abuse in Russia that results in “minor harm,” such as “small abrasions, bruises, superficial wounds and soft-tissue damage,” The Moscow Times reports.
Repeat misdemeanor offenses within the span of a year could still result in prosecution, the newspaper says.
The maximum penalty in Russia for “light” domestic violence is now down from up to two years in prison to just 15 days in jail.
Abusers could also be slapped with a $500 fine, according to the report.
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