Tuesday 22nd December 2020
New immunity law
Putin secured lifelong impunity
In theory, Vladimir Putin can remain President of Russia until 2036. But even if he leaves office earlier, he has no reason to worry: With a new law, he enjoys immunity until death. His family too.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is evading any criminal prosecution. To this end, the 68-year-old signed a corresponding law. It gives former Russian leaders life immunity from prosecution. The regulation also applies to the family members of the ex-presidents, as can be seen from the text of the law. The law is part of a controversial constitutional reform that theoretically allows Putin to stay in office until 2036.
Previously, presidents' immunity only applied to crimes committed during their term of office. In addition to extending immunity beyond the mandate of heads of state, the new regulation also stipulates that they may not be questioned or arrested by the police or the public prosecutor for the rest of their lives. House searches of ex-presidents are also prohibited in the future.
According to the new legal situation, immunity from former presidents in Russia can still be withdrawn in the future if they are accused of treason or other serious crimes and a corresponding charge is confirmed by a constitutional judge. However, the now signed law gives ex-presidents a lifelong right to a seat in the Senate or in the powerful Russian Federation Council. Both positions go hand in hand with protection from criminal prosecution.
Another controversial law
Lower House MPs in Moscow also approved another controversial law that gives confidentiality status to data on judicial, law enforcement, and military and security officials. Before the law comes into force, Putin has yet to sign it, but this step is considered a formality.
The law was adopted by parliament the day after the publication of a recording of a telephone conversation between Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and an agent of the Russian domestic secret service FSB, in which Navalny extracted precise information from the agent about the course of the poison attack on him in August. Navalny pretended to be an assistant to the head of the National Security Council during the phone call. After the phone call, Navalny published the contact details of the FSB agent. This would be illegal after the new law came into force.
Navalny collapsed in August during a flight from within Russia. Two days later he was brought to the Charité University Hospital in Berlin, lying in a coma, for treatment. Laboratories from Germany, France and Sweden found traces of poisoning with the chemical nerve agent from the Novitschok group after the attack on the opposition politician. The Kremlin denies any involvement in the attack.
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