1/28/2017

Is the media getting the story about Russia's law regarding domestic violence wrong to generate attention?

One can definitely disagree with the new change in Russia's law regarding domestic violence, but one thing is sure: the media has not been doing a very good job explaining the change.  Possibly with all the articles involving Trump and Russia, it is just fits into the media's desire to generate more anger against Russia.  From USA Today:
Russia's parliament voted 380-3 on Friday to decriminalize domestic violence in cases where it does not cause "substantial bodily harm" and does not occur more than once a year.  
The move, which eliminates criminal liability in such cases, makes a violation punishable by a fine of roughly $500, or a 15-day arrest, provided there is no repeat within 12 months.  
The bill now goes to the rubber-stamp upper chamber, where no opposition is expected. It then must be signed by President Vladimir Putin, who has signaled his support. . . .
Wisconsin defines "Substantial bodily harm" this way:
“Substantial bodily harm" means bodily injury that causes a laceration that requires stitches, staples, or a tissue adhesive; any fracture of a bone; a broken nose; a burn; a petechia; a temporary loss of consciousness, sight or hearing; a concussion; or a loss or fracture of a tooth.
I don't have access to how "substantial bodily harm" is defined by Russians, but if their definition is similar to the one in Wisconsin: even a small amount of bleeding under the skin that forms the equivalent of a small bruise (petechia is "Pinpoint flat round red spots under the skin surface caused by intradermal hemorrhage", "under 3 mm," and "similar to bruises, in that they are blood added to the skin tissues") would still be a crime.  

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