[61306] Russia's Supreme Court promotes significant easing of drug offense penalties

A new bill in Russia: Reducing penalties for drug offenses

The Supreme Court of Russia has submitted to the State Duma a bill aimed at easing the punishment for the purchase and possession of drugs in "large" and "especially large" quantities, without the intent to distribute. As reported in Varlamov News, the stated goal is to "ensure a greater degree of individualization of criminal responsibility." The proposal calls for shortening maximum sentences from 10 to 5 years for large quantities, and from 15 to 10 years for especially large quantities, while eliminating mandatory minimum sentences.

Government position and public debate

The Russian government, according to a report in Коммерсантъ (known for its in-depth economic and political coverage), is prepared to support some of the initiatives but has expressed reservations about changes to sections directly concerning large quantities, fearing a security risk. Телеканал Дождь (which takes a critical line toward the government) quoted government sources warning that the early release of criminals could lead to "reintegration into a criminal environment."

Data and criticism

The bill is based on concerning data: according to ASTRA (a channel that frequently reports on human rights violations), about 70,000 people were convicted of drug offenses in 2024, with 33.8% of them being young people aged 18-29. The Усы Пескова channel noted cynically that "one can receive a similar sentence for discrediting the army, and there is no liberalization there."

Conversely, opposition channels like Zone AP have raised conspiracy theories, suggesting that the leniency is motivated by the government's self-interested considerations, such as the need to solve a "manpower shortage" and encouraging criminals to sign military contracts. At the same time, law enforcement authorities in Russia continue operations against the sale of prohibited substances, as reported in Коммерсантъ regarding state efforts against the market for illegal dietary supplements (BAD) sold on online trading platforms.