Police Precinct Officer, Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs

New Statute Helps Victims of Domestic Violence

On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, the Moscow City Duma passed a new statute that provides additional legal protections for victims of domestic violence. The statute extends the definition of domestic violence to include psychological and economic abuse, expands the powers of police officers to intervene in domestic violence cases, and provides for the creation of a new domestic violence court.

The new statute is a significant step forward in the fight against domestic violence in Russia. According to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, 40% of all violent crimes reported in Russia are domestic violence-related. And approximately 1 in 4 women in Russia have experienced domestic violence.

The new statute is designed to address these problems by providing victims of domestic violence with more legal recourse, making it easier for police officers to intervene in domestic violence cases, and creating a specialized court to handle these cases.

The statute defines domestic violence as any act or omission by a family member or former family member that poses risks to life or health, or causes physical, psychological, or economic harm.

Provisions to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence

The statute includes several provisions to protect victims of domestic violence, including:

• The statute extends the definition of domestic violence to include psychological and economic abuse, as well as physical abuse.
• The statute gives police officers the power to issue temporary restraining orders against abusers, even if the victim does not file a formal complaint.
• The statute provides for the creation of a new Domestic Violence Court, which will have jurisdiction over all domestic violence cases.
• The statute requires the Government to provide free legal aid to victims of domestic violence.
• The statute makes it a separate crime to violate a restraining order in a domestic violence case.

The new statute is a significant step forward in the fight against domestic violence in Russia. The statute provides victims of domestic violence with more legal recourse, makes it easier for police officers to intervene in domestic violence cases, and creates a specialized court to handle these cases.

How the New Statute Will Help Victims of Domestic Violence

The new statute will help victims of domestic violence in several ways.

• The statute will provide victims of domestic violence with more legal recourse. The statute broadens the definition of domestic violence to include psychological and economic abuse, and it gives police officers the power to issue temporary restraining orders against abusers, even if the victim does not file a formal complaint.
• Easier for police officers to intervene in domestic violence cases. The statute gives police officers the authority to enter homes and remove abusers from the premises, even without a warrant, if they have probable cause to believe that domestic violence is occurring.
• The statute will create a specialized domestic violence court. The court will have jurisdiction over all domestic violence cases, and it will be staffed by judges who are specially trained in domestic violence law.
• The statute will require the Government to provide free legal aid to victims of domestic violence. This will help victims of domestic violence to get the legal assistance they need to obtain protection from their abusers.
• The statute will make it a separate crime to violate a restraining order in a domestic violence case. This will help to deter abusers from violating restraining orders, and it will make it easier to prosecute abusers who violate restraining orders.

Conclusion

The new statute is a significant step forward in the fight against domestic violence in Russia. The statute provides victims of domestic violence with more legal recourse, makes it easier for police officers to intervene in domestic violence cases, and creates a specialized court to handle these cases. The statute is a major victory for victims of domestic violence in Russia, and it is a step in the right direction towards ending domestic violence in Russia.