The Russian government will approve a Supreme Court bill to soften punishment for illegal drug trafficking "for personal use." Kommersant reports this.
The Supreme Court drafted this bill in May 2025. At that time, it proposed not imposing prison sentences on citizens convicted for the first time of illegal drug trafficking in a "significant amount" without intent to sell, for illegal "cultivation of narcotic plants," and for forging prescriptions for narcotic substances.
In addition, the Supreme Court proposed reducing the maximum prison term for the illegal purchase, storage, transportation, and manufacture of drugs "for personal use" in a large amount from 10 to 5 years, and in an especially large amount from 15 to 10 years.
As Kommersant reports, the government is ready to support the initiative only on the condition that provisions easing sentences for people accused of illegal drug trafficking in large and especially large amounts are removed from it. The cabinet said this "does not align with the ongoing work" to combat illegal drug trafficking.
"Implementation of the norm will lead to a review of previously issued court decisions. A significant number of those convicted under the cited articles may be released from places of detention and reintegrate into the criminal environment. Softer sanctions will create conditions for evading responsibility for acts whose commission carries risks of drug sales," the Russian government said.
In December 2023, Human Rights Council member Eva Merkacheva said at a meeting with Vladimir Putin that in some Russian penal colonies, the share of citizens convicted of illegal drug trafficking reaches 80%. He proposed analyzing the laws and preparing amendments.