Statistics on Domestic Violence in Russia; Only the 'Tip of the Iceberg' is Visible

The negative population growth in Russia has long been a serious problem for the country. According to Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Kremlin, "We live in the largest country in the world, but our population is small." To address this issue, the Russian government has implemented various measures, from financial assistance to large families to restrictions on abortion and banning 'voluntary childlessness.' Vladimir Putin, who has designated 2024 as the 'Year of the Family,' has repeatedly stated that 'family and traditional values' are the foundation of Russian society. Legislators and officials also emphasize the necessity of supporting families. Meanwhile, thousands of women in Russia face violence every day, and hundreds are killed by their closest relatives. Many of these crimes remain unnoticed by the public, as abused women rarely disclose their situations due to fear or shame, and their relatives and friends also avoid revealing instances of domestic violence. Journalists from the 'Vorstka' publication analyzed over 30,000 court rulings issued in Russia and the annexed Crimean Peninsula during the first six months of this year, identifying five thousand cases related to domestic violence. According to the report, since the Russian Ministry of Justice has recently allowed courts not to publish judges' rulings, the cases examined are only the tip of the iceberg. After reviewing about five thousand domestic violence cases in Russia, 'Vorstka' journalists created a calendar detailing one case of domestic violence for each day. Some examples from this calendar include: January 23: A man in Surgut beat his wife, pulled her hair, kneeled on her neck, and asked his daughter to bring a knife; when the girl screamed for help, he also assaulted her. He was sentenced to two years of probation because the court considered having children an important condition for reducing the sentence. February 14: A man in Omsk struck his wife more than ten times on Valentine's Day, and she spent several months in the hospital. During this time, his trial was held, and he was released after paying a fine of five thousand rubles (about $50). February 28: A man in Krov beat his wife over fifty times with his hands and feet, a piece of wood, and a chair. He stated in court that he had made a deal with a representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense while in detention and was ready to be sent to fight against Ukraine. The judge closed the case. April 16: A man in the Russian Far East, who had repeatedly beaten his wife according to his neighbors' testimonies, confessed after his arrest that he had beaten his wife in front of their children, and when she fell to the ground, her temple hit a sharp edge, and he secretly buried her body in his agricultural land. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison because the judge considered 'honest confession' an important factor for reducing the sentence. According to 'Vorstka,' out of five thousand domestic violence cases, 245 were related to spousal murder. The report states that in 83% of cases, honor-related reasons were the main cause of violence by the male family member against his wife, and in 84% of cases, the man was intoxicated. There is no legal framework in Russian criminal law addressing domestic violence or the murder of a woman by her husband. The Russian Duma passed a bill seven years ago stating that domestic violence is not considered a criminal offense. The Russian parliament, which passes hundreds of laws each year, has been reviewing a bill on 'Preventing Domestic Violence in Russia' for the past five years, and over 10,000 amendments have been made to it. Despite polls indicating that 95% of women and over 80% of men in Russia support the enactment of a law against domestic violence, Russian lawmakers are in no hurry to do so. Nina Stankina, head of the Duma Committee for the Defense of Family Values, recently stated in response to reporters' questions about whether this law might be passed by the end of the year that 'it is unlikely that a law on domestic violence will be passed in the year dedicated to the family.' In her opinion, this law is 'harmful and would cause irreparable damage to family values.' A recent survey indicates that 23% of Russian women are victims of domestic violence, and 39% are aware of instances of violence against other women. If a woman is constantly subjected to violence in her family, the court does not consider this situation an aggravating factor for punishment. According to existing criminal laws, the murder of a stranger is considered a more serious crime than the murder of a family member. Almost all cases of murder of women by their husbands are examined under Article 105 (murder) or Article 111 of the Criminal Code (severe bodily harm resulting in death). Article 111 does not set a minimum punishment, and the maximum penalty is 15 years in prison. Defendants in murder cases are sentenced to a minimum of six years and a maximum of 15 years in prison. Only if the murder poses a danger to multiple individuals, such as in an explosion or fire, might the court sentence the defendant to life imprisonment. No death sentences have been issued in Russia in the past 28 years. 'Vorstka's' analysis shows that judges often impose lighter sentences on offenders in domestic violence cases. According to the report, during the first six months of this year, 73% of men convicted of murdering their wives were sentenced to less than 10 years in prison. The punishments for men whose violence did not result in their wives' deaths included: 66% received a fine of 5,000 rubles (about $50), 10% received fines between 6,000 and 10,000 rubles ($60 to $100), 8% were sentenced to mandatory community service, and others returned home without punishment. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, which coincided with an increase in the repression of Kremlin opponents, hundreds of people in Russia have been fined millions and sentenced to long prison terms for private conversations or writings criticizing the government or the war. According to official statistics, domestic violence in Russia has doubled compared to the year before the war against Ukraine, and serious crimes have increased by 45%. So far, more than 100 people have been killed by individuals returning from the war fronts in Ukraine. Additionally, since the start of the war, cases of sexual assault have increased sixfold, with half of the victims being children and adolescents.