Ukraine increases criminal liability for looting

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed Law No.7124 amending the Criminal Code of Ukraine to increase criminal liability for looting, according to the parliament’s press service.

In particular, the document equates looting to a crime on a particularly large scale or committed by an organized group.

"Amendments to the Criminal Code proposes to supplement the offences provided for in Articles 185 (theft), 186 (robbery), 187 (robbery), 189 (extortion), 191 (seizure of property) by a qualifying feature – committed during martial law," reads the explanatory note.

The bill also provides for an increase in the minimum sentence under Article 432 of the Criminal Code (theft on the battlefield of things that are with the killed or wounded) in the form of imprisonment for a term from three to five years.

As reported, on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure.

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