Belgorod region Duma deputies hope to combat prostitution by putting forward a bill which would punish the client ?°, as well as prostitutes themselves, Moskovsky Komsomolets reported Friday.
"The actions of people who receive sexual services on a commercial basis are also unlawful," the document wrote. "It is an obstacle for the fight with prostitution."
But the document proposes that those caught only receive a fine of 1500-2000 rubles ($50-66).
Prostitution has also proven difficult to catch. Moscow police figures show that since 1997, 21,936 prostitutes have been arrested and fined for infractions, but only 263 of those were actually fines for prostitution, Moskovsky Komsomolets reported. The others were fined for different violations due to a lack of evidence for prostitution.
The bill has yet to be examined by the Belgorod Duma, but Just Russia deputy Alexander Ageyev has called it "controversial," because he believes that it does not address the main problem of those who organize prostitution.
"First of all, we must toughen the punishment for trading prostitutes and take the fight to organized prostitution," he said.
United Russia spokesman Vyacheslav Lysakov said that he sees sense in the bill.
"There is clear logic in the Belgorod proposal because it's obvious that demand creates supply," he said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.