Russia backs chemical castration for molesters
Russian lawmakers gave initial support today to a Kremlin-backed bill allowing judges to order the chemical castration of convicted child molesters with psychological problems.
The tough new measure was proposed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in May and will now need to pass two more readings in the Kremlin-controlled State Duma lower house of parliament before being voted on in the upper chamber.
"This is a response to society's concerns over the rise of sexual crimes against children," ruling party lawmaker Oleg Morozov said in televised remarks before the Duma backed the bill 332-0 with one abstention.
Medvedev's measure is a watered-downed version of a 2009 plan that would have made chemical castration mandatory for paedophiles.
That measure never reached the floor for a vote and the new one applies only to offenders against children of 13 years and under, who are diagnosed with psychological problems by doctors.
But the bill still promises to make Russia only the second European nation after Poland to impose the controversial punishment. It has also been practiced in California and some other US states since the 1990s.
Crimes committed against children would receive "the toughest sanctions -- up to life in prison and the application of mandatory medical measures," the Kremlin's Duma representative Garri Minkh said ahead of the vote.
The chemical castration process involves the injection of drugs that reduce a person's libido. The bill says the chemicals may also be administered on a voluntary basis to convicts who want to reform.
Russia's chief investigator said in April that there were more than 9,500 sex crimes against minors in the country last year.
The bill was backed by the country's entire political spectrum in an apparent bid by lawmakers to look tough on crime ahead of December's parliamentary polls.
The day's lone voice of caution sounded from Medvedev's human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin -- a gentle critic of some of the Kremlin's more controversial social policies.
Lukin observed that the presidential administration sometimes got carried away with anti-crime and other campaigns that overstepped the bounds of acceptable state behaviour.
"Sometimes we wage a campaign and end up in a very unpleasant situation," the Interfax news agency quoted Lukin as saying.
"Every crime -- especially every crime dealing with paedophilia -- has to be proven very clearly and firmly," Lukin said.
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Ms D Galea
Oct 5th 2011, 22:47
Chemical castration should not be considered as a punishment but rather as effective and long lasting treatment for the illness, and that is the most beneficial for both molester and society in general.
Bill Khan
Oct 5th 2011, 19:29
And to say that we fought against Hitler and Nazi germany for the use of such punishment and methodology. My father may god bless his soul used to say, ''Hitler is gone but alas Europe will soon emulate him in each and every way and yet still condemn him.''
Should we not be asking ourselves the question , 'why is the crimes against children going up not only in Russia but all over'. And why have we not progressed mentally since the dark ages to find effective ways to reduce the attacks on children. And whether any castration of bankers be levied for abusing millions of adults and children across the globe with huge devastation to their lives.
Mr Peter Korsten
Oct 5th 2011, 07:30
It's amazing how many people haven't got the foggiest idea of what "chemical castration" is, yet feel qualified to respond. Look it up. For one thing, it's not permanent, although there are certain effects after prolonged use. And it's available in the West, although to my knowledge, never compulsory - but it's the kind of "not compulsory" where the alternative is a lengthy prison sentence.
Mr M Cachia
Oct 4th 2011, 21:10
Dangerous - what if there are cases of mistaken identity, false convictions etc. The maiming of another human being is never justified in any case. This is surely a case of regression rather than furthuring of the human condition
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Oct 4th 2011, 19:44
Well done to Russia. We should do the same. It is useless to be patient with some criminals.
Andy Farrugia
Oct 4th 2011, 20:52
Another pearl of wisdom from Putin's greatest fan!
Mr Martin Cassar
Oct 4th 2011, 17:33
Well done Russia. Barbaric crimes require barbaric punishment. Is the Pope hearing?
Andy Farrugia
Oct 4th 2011, 18:05
Prosit hej, kemm inti uman u civili; u tahseb li s-Santita Tieghu, il-Papa, ha jaghti kaz ta kummenti deliranti? Tal-biza u ta' l-ghageb!
Charles Sammut
Oct 4th 2011, 18:10
The Pope hears but does not listen.
Mr Tommy Vella
Oct 4th 2011, 17:19
And we Europeans and other western nations have the guts to condemn Muslims for cutting off the arms of thieves etc
Mr Martin Cassar
Oct 4th 2011, 17:52
We do this for political and economical reasons. No more no less. We use our values as political tool. Many Muslims countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Llibya....has oil more than Russia. The crux of all this is that Russia has the nuclear power that could attack the west and turn the west to dust in few hours hours while Muslims do now.
Guess what? With all this which is considered anti-human by our standards and still we do business with Russia!
Mr Martin Cassar
Oct 4th 2011, 18:32
Slight correction please. The last sentence should read:
Russia has the nuclear power that could attack the west and turn the west to dust in few hours hours while Muslims do not. ;-)
Michael Flaherty
Oct 4th 2011, 21:43
Yes! Chemical castration can be reversable, whereas limbs don't grow back!
Shamison Busuttil
Oct 4th 2011, 17:15
finally - the world is starting to act against these monsters.If they cannot control themselves they shall be controlled by someone else
Richard Borg
Oct 4th 2011, 16:47
We should implement this in Malta.
Mr Karl Consiglio
Oct 4th 2011, 16:30
Will make them worse, not better, will make them all the more frustrated, and therefore dangerous, will make them less normal than they are already. If before they fondled a child, now they will throw him down the well.
Charles Sammut
Oct 4th 2011, 17:21
So let's give them a box of chocolates and a bunch of flowers instead. What sort of convoluted reasoning is that? What chemical castration does, is remove sexual urges and therefore fantasies and frustrations.