State Duma proposed amnesty for economic criminals

Deputies of the lower house of parliament came up with a legislative initiative to introduce amnesty for a number of economic crimes.  This was done in order to allow entrepreneurs, who are able to take part in the improvement of the current situation in the country, return ti their activities. Businessmen can help with creating the necessary organizations, as well as jobs.

Among the articles of the Criminal Code, in violation of which an amnesty may follow, the fraud, including with the use of electronic means of payment is named.

The authors of the bill cite the opinion of experts, according to which almost any transaction for the alienation of assets, including a simple payment, can fall under this article. To do this, it is necessary to prove the existence of fraud or breach of trust.

As for embezzlement, which can also fall under the amnesty, this crime is called "rubber" in certain circles. The terminology is related to the fact that the employees of the investigating authorities have the opportunity to adapt the norm to their needs in a particular situation.

This article is often used in conflicts between business owners and hired management. For its application, the owner must choose a certain decision of the manager and declare it unprofitable or inconsistent and causing damage to the company.

The explanatory note to the draft law also provides statistical data, according to which a survey among entrepreneurs conducted last year showed that 80% of respondents did not consider doing business in the country safe.

Survey participants said that Russian legislation did not provide them with sufficient protection from unjustified criminal prosecution, and the investigation and trial are often exclusively accusatory in nature, without fully understanding the circumstances of the case.

Among the norms of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which may fall under the amnesty, are also named illegal entrepreneurship, malicious evasion of repayment of accounts payable, evasion of taxes, fees and insurance premiums, and a number of others.