The Russian parliament's lower chamber, the State Duma, has approved all three readings of a bill that would set a penalty of life imprisonment for high treason. Current law sets the maximum penalty at 20 years in prison for individuals convicted on the charge. The bill was proposed on April 7, days before opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison on a high treason charge that he and rights defenders call politically motivated. The number of convictions for high treason has risen dramatically since Russia launched its ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Russian Lawmakers Approve Bill Allowing Life Imprisonment For High Treason
Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza stands in the defendant's cage at the Moscow City Court on the final day of his trial, April 17, in which he was sentenced to 25 years in prison on charges of treason and spreading false information.