Report: Official asks to ban businessmen sentences for criminal units

MOSCOW, Mar 18 (PRIME) -- Russian business ombudsman Boris Titov has sent a letter to head of the presidential administration Anton Vaino, asking to amend legislation to ban persecution of businessmen for establishment of criminal organizations, business daily Kommersant reported Monday.

According to Titov, the law, envisaging up to 20-year sentences for violation, is frequently unfairly applied to businessmen, and the threat of persecution might have become a usual practice of pressure on businessmen after a recent toughening of punishment under the law.

Businessmen should be liable under this law only for money counterfeiting, the official said.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is easing the criminal law for business but with certain restrictions. “This is all under the category of working correspondence, we will not comment on that. But you know, there is indeed a policy of easing but with some restrictions. So if this application took place, it will be considered.”

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