The Russian State Duma has passed a bill that toughens responsibility for war crimes - voluntary surrender, looting and forcing to violate the duties of military service - with long prison sentences. The bill was published on the website of the legislative support system.

In particular, for voluntary surrender (Criminal Code Article 352.1) servicemen will be punished by imprisonment for the term from three to ten years; for marauding (Criminal Code Article 356.1) and forcing to violate the duties of military service (Article 333) - by imprisonment for up to 15 years.

The increased liability for the above crimes is due to the fact that the bill also mentions the periods of mobilization and martial law as aggravating circumstances.

The draft law №160006-8 was adopted by the deputies of the State Duma unanimously in the second and third readings. In the Federation Council, according to Andrey Klishas, head of the Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, this bill will be considered on Wednesday, September 21.