Legislations for Protecting Victims

Russia

Russia represents one of the main countries of origin of trafficking victims. This is due, in particular, to the country's precarious economic conditions and to the involvement of the Russian Mafia. Russia also functions as a transit zone through which victims from Asia and other countries of the former Soviet Union, especially Ukraine, are shipped.

The Russian criminal code does not make provisions for trafficking in human beings, although certain articles do define aspects of this practice. For example, article 120 punishes the use of physical violence or psychological abuse when used against a person in order to remove his or her organs. The deprivation of individual liberty by means of violence is punished by articles 126 and 127. And other articles (such as 133, 155 and 240) punish the forcing of a person or minor, by means of violence, intimidation, deception, or threatening behaviour, into prostitution or any other sexual activity.

Article 152 (chapter 20), concerning crimes against the family and minors, condemns the trafficking of children. The buying or selling of a minor or any other sort of transaction resulting in the minor's removal or acquisition is punishable in any of the following ways: (1) 180 to 240 hours of enforced labour; (2) one to two years of correctional work; (3) up to three years' deprivation of liberty; or (4) five years' imprisonment.

The prescribed punishment is more serious when any of the following circumstances are proved: (1) the crime is committed frequently; (2) it is committed against more than one minor; (3) an organised group is involved; (4) the victim's vulnerability has been taken advantage of; (5) the victim has been either illegally removed from Russia or illegally returned to the country; (6) the minor has been encouraged to take part in criminal activities or any other such activities likely to disrupt the peace; or (7) the motive was sexual exploitation or organ removal.

Russian legislation does not recognise trafficking in human beings that has economic exploitation for its aim.