Russia's Federation Council approves law on life sentence for pedophiles

The Federation Council of Russia has supported a law envisaging a life sentence for recidivist pedophiles, Report informs, citing RIA Novosti.

The law will apply to recidivist pedophiles who abused children under 18 (previously under 14), cases where two or more children became victims, and situations associated with another grave or particularly grave crime committed by the same person.

Articles 131 ("Rape") and 132 ("Violent acts of a sexual nature") of the Russian Criminal Code will be amended accordingly.

In September, the initiative to toughen the punishment was submitted to the State Duma after the tragedy in Kiselevsk, Kemerovo region, where 41-year-old Viktor Pesternikov, previously convicted of pedophilia, raped and killed two ten-year-old schoolgirls.