A very unfortunate case on face value! On the one hand we need laws to be obeyed, we need them to be non arbitary, we need legal certainty, we need absoluteness. The purpose behind all laws of this nature, is the protection of the minor, and as such is hardly morally bankrupt. Given the circumstances of this case (as known publicly) there can be a little doubt, that an offence has been commited. Also from the circumstances (as portrayed publicly) there seems no hint of abuse in terms of forcing the minor to engage in sex. On the contray, it apears there is great emotion involved. There is therefore a judgement call here, and the right place to do this judgement in a civil society, is a court of law. Judicial systems around the world, have long held that not every crime should merit prosecution. This is the Public interest option. In this case, was it really in the Public interest to convict this Father? If it was deemed correct to prosecute, based on public interest, then following inevitable conviction. Mitigation then comes into play. I would therefore ask, given the facts of this case (known publicly) did the punishment, really match the severeness of the crime? In a Justice system, we must judge each case on its merits, we must send a strong meassage that illegality will not be tolerated, whilst at the same time in sentencing, realising that the culpability of the convicted can be different. This is not arbitary law, the law and conviction is secured. This is normal Judgment, based on normal legal principles of fitting punishment to the crime. It is the law of proportionality. As debrief, we also must analyze criminal codification. Given, that ages of consent, vary widely around the world; does the age limit currently set, really represent the onset of legal culpability, or is it, itself based on some arbitary choice. This is a huge topic, worthy of debate, and for which I have no answer. In my view there are many options, the most revolutionary is to base the age limit individualy based on Biology, less so revolutionary is to base it on a statistical distribution of Biology, of a given population, and a standard approach is to base the age limit on a notion of capacity to consent. There are also other options in addition, to allow exceptions for certain circumstances, e.g marriage. I have sympathy in this case, but we must do law. Would I personally of given this fellow 3 years; no, based on very limited knowledge I really have, but I am not the Judge, and truly I do not have the real facts in front of me. I am painfully aware, that judging cases in the media, is the wrong way to go. However, in this case, I think the issues are interesting to explore in public. We in Russia, musn't just copy things, we need find the right way to go for us, based on our reasoning and judgement.

If they love each other,let no man or law stop them.The people that did this should know that GOD is no happy with them and the will answer for it. Leave the BOY so as to Stay with he's child.There will problem in the land if he's not been released because I'm for seeing what is going to happen in time to come just because of this. Thank you all.

D.C I am with you on this one, based purely on what I have read; give him a slap on the wrist, and let him go and play with the baby.

I really can not understand how the law does not permit sex between a husband and wife.

The sentence does seem very severe, given the circumstances. - The age difference is only four years and the pair are married. This is not a middle-aged man forcing his attentions on a child in his control. - The young man admitted his guilt - this act saves the court time and expense and shows his respect for the court and the law. - The court must be aware that this was a technical infraction of the law which the court knows the defendant is unlikely to repeat. - The court knows that such a long sentence will hurt the family - father, mother and child. Each of the above points should have reduced the penalty imposed by the court. A suspended sentence seems more appropriate in this case.

A shocking sentence in civilised society at least. No need to discuss the pros and cons. Look at the age difference; the fact that the girl lied and the fact that there is love and acceptance in all sides. In no way is it in the public's interest to prosecute this lad on the evidence available in this article. Get a grip judges! You're older and wiser and know the difference between paedophilia and young teenage love surely!? Or, maybe not.....?

So what was the outcome of this? The real issue is the law is incongruous. If parents give consent for marriage, it implies sex will happen as far as I’m concerned. In western law a marriage can be annulled if they don’t have sex, the marriage HAS to be consummated. What did they do on their honeymoon, play video games… ha ha… what did the parents think would happen? The problem is actually with the marriage law itself. If this poor guy is in jail now, I think this is one thing Putin must fix, let them have their little family, give him a pardon and call for the reevaluation of the marriage law involving minors. This is like giving kids permission to go into a pub, giving them an open bottle of Vodka, and then spanking them because they take a sip, the law is broken. If it was a 50-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl, I’d think twice, but they both kids and if anyone is to blame it’s the parents that said they could get married. Sounds like a vendetta to me. I hope they let him get back to his young family, they so young, they going to need all the help they can get. Who knows maybe they are the real thing, Romeo and Juliet ;) I say, hey Medvedev, a pardon is in order.

This is sad indeed. The court did more damage the supposed pedophile has.

I really never thought you guys in russia were going to succumb to the MF laws of the west and appears as not only in the political arena but in the social arena. The whole entire european society including the russian are one of the most selling sex internet entrepenuers of this century and have the courage to pass a "law" that prohibits two people that love each other very much for having a family as normal human beings. I bet the goverment does not do any thing to all those powerful business man who every day recruit under age girls performing in all the porn website in russia. What is wrong with you guys. You shall keep your old way of life and improve in technology but to try to copycat laws to destroy families and love, you guys then are heading to self destruction. Shame on you if this couple is not allow to live happy raising their beautiful daugther. Refering to "Count Cash" comments whoever you are, your jargon of "law" is simply obnoxious. No need to set examples to no one, every human knows the difference between some thing wrong and some thing beautiful and this case was the result of love/beauty. We All know when we were thier ages. In the history of human kind laws are made mostly for the convenience of those in power. So I will like to see YOUR life/mind true time and see how "moral" you really are. If you think you are perfect then you are a God.