Both chambers of Russian parliament support tougher punishment for terrorism

Members of the State Duma and Federation Council have approved a joint statement calling for stricter criminal liability for terrorism and any actions that support terrorism. It also urges additional measures to ensure the security of Russian citizens.

“It is necessary to toughen the criminal responsibility for terrorism and for any help to it, including recruiting, propaganda and financing or any other support to terrorist groups,” reads the document approved by Russian lawmakers on Friday.

The document calls for additional measures to ensure the security of ordinary citizens during public events, in public places and on various forms of transport. Russian lawmakers agreed that such security measures should have absolute priority when making and drafting new bills and legislative amendments.

READ MORE: Call to reinstate death penalty for terrorism by Russian leftist leader

Federation Council Chair Valentina Matviyenko proposed giving broader powers to Russian law enforcers and security services in connection with the increased terrorist threat.

“You cannot have too much security and any system needs further perfection,” she said. Russia must press for creating an international tribunal for those who organize and commit terrorist attacks, Matviyenko added.

Members of the joint chambers also threw their support behind President Vladimir Putin’s call to create a broad international coalition for fighting terrorism, made during the latest UN General Assembly Session. The upper house has also passed a similar declaration calling for parliaments of the world to join their efforts in fighting terrorism and to make their nation join the broad international anti-terror coalition.