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