The proposed amendments are designed to create a favorable business climate in the country, including the backdrop of sanctions against Russia.
The draft law makes adjustments, implying the application of criminal liability only if the businessman previously had administrative offenses for such stories. If the entrepreneur violated the requirements of the currency legislation for the first time or if he or she did not return the funds on time and even if this amount was judged by the court as large, he does not face the criminal punishment.
The Committee on the Security and Anti-Corruption considered amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code, which dealt with the application of measures to partial decriminalization of the article 210 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, regarding business owners.
In 2019 the president Vladimir Putin became the initiator of introducing the draft law for consideration. Deputies supported his proposal. Based on the results of the first opinion on the draft law, a recommendation on its adoption in the 1st reading was sent.
The Chairman of the Committee Vasily Piskarev in the process of submitting the draft law to his colleagues noted the importance of ensuring a favorable climate, conducive to the development of the country's economy, as well as the speed of implementation of the presidential initiative and measures, leading to the reduction of risks in the entrepreneurial activity.
He also noted that amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation will significantly weaken the criminal prosecution of the 5 compositions of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation that affect the economic sphere.
The threshold after which the businessman may become criminally liable is proposed to establish the amount of four recorded violations in the field of tax legislation.
The changes in the Article 210 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation regarding the creation of organized crime groups and criminal groups (criminal groups and communities) are not less important. It is planned to analyze the process of work of the community, its leaders, employees and the organization’s intentions. It will become impossible to criminalize employees if it is proved that their activities were legitimate in case of a fraud on the part of management.
The experts suggest that the adoption of such amendments will help in creating a healthy business climate in Russia.
