Quack attack: Russian MP proposes up to 5 years in prison for killer wizards, folk healers
A ruling-party lawmaker has drafted a bill targeting people who practice folk medicine and magic without proper state registration. Under the motion, such people could face up to five years in prison if their activities cause the loss of human life.
The author of the bill is MP Vitaly Milonov of the United Russia party, known as a relentless defender of Orthodox Christian values and the main sponsor of the Russian law banning the promotion of non-traditional sexual relations to minors.
This time, Milonov wants the Russian Criminal Code amended with a separate article ordering large fines or up to three years in prison for practicing “occult and magic activities,” as well as folk medicine, without a proper license from government bodies. The punishment could be increased to five years in prison when the illegal magic causes a loss of human life or especially-large material damage.
The bill introduces the definition of occult and magical activities as any services provided by astrologers, fortune tellers, magi, spiritualists, psychics and clairvoyants, and aimed at diagnosing and affecting the spiritual world and property of a person. However, the rules and the need to register apply to providers of magical services even if they do not name their professional activities with some exotic term, but use simple words like consultant or expert.
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