Alexander Bastrykin, the head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, said the agency had previously proposed lowering the age of criminal liability to 12. According to Interfax, he made the remarks at the International Youth Legal Forum.
“They lowered [the age of criminal liability to 14], and we proposed lowering it a little further, following the example of some other countries. In England, for example, criminal liability for serious crimes begins at age 10. We proposed 12, but they did not agree with us. Still, they at least agreed on 14. On the one hand, they are foolish, but on the other, they are growing up much faster than we did in our time. And at 12 or 13 they already commit crimes, but do not fall under the age of criminal liability and go unpunished,” Bastrykin said.
At present, in Russia criminal liability generally begins at 16, while for some specific crimes it begins at 14.
These include, among others, charges of murder (Criminal Code Article 105), rape (Article 131), terrorist attack (Article 205), and sabotage (Article 281).
In recent years, Russian law enforcement agencies have increasingly reported the detention of teenagers in cases involving terrorist attacks or sabotage.
For example, on June 25, the Interior Ministry reported the detention of a 13-year-old teenager in a terrorism case. According to the ministry, the case stemmed from the arson of a fuel pump at a gas station.