By IANS/Novosti,
Moscow : A bill toughening penalties for paedophiles, including life sentences and chemical castration, has been passed by Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma.
Under the bill, child sexual abusers are not eligible for parole and repeat offenders will face life sentences.
The bill is yet to be approved by the upper house of parliament — the Federation Council — before it is signed into law by the president.
Chemical castration of paedophiles is used in several countries such as Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Israel, Norway, Sweden, Poland, as well as in some US states.
Some Russian politicians and advocacy groups claim that liberal laws and lenient courts in the country enable too many offenders to escape punishment or to return to molesting children after serving only brief prison sentences.