Moscow, 29 April 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed tougher laws stipulating increased penalties for high treason, sabotage and terrorism, according to the text of the legislation published on Friday.

The sentence for high treason, for example, has been raised to life imprisonment. Most recently, Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Mursa was sentenced by a Russian court to 25 years in prison for alleged high treason, among other offences.

The Russian parliament, or Duma, passed the relevant laws 10 days ago. In addition to the life sentence for high treason, prison terms for other crimes were also increased, in some cases significantly.

For acts of sabotage, the maximum sentence was increased from 15 to 20 years. Numerous opponents of Russia's war in Ukraine who set fire to military district offices or damaged railway tracks to prevent the transport of armaments will be thus put on trial.

The maximum sentence for "international terrorism" will be increased from 10 to 12 years, and the minimum sentence for aiding and abetting in such a case from five to seven years.

In addition, Putin also signed a law that criminalizes "aiding and abetting the implementation of decisions of international organizations in which Russia is not a party, or of foreign state organs."

Defendants face a fine of up to 1 million roubles ($12,465) or up to five years' imprisonment.

Most recently, the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin caused outrage in Moscow. The Kremlin considers Western sanctions as a result of Russia's war against Ukraine illegal.

Photo: EPA