The Russian government

has submitted a bill to the State Duma for toughening punishment for illegal

private security activities. The documents version has been published on the

official database of the lower house of parliament. Amendments are proposed to

the Russian Code on Administrative Offences.

Employees of private

security firms fulfill the guard function, but their activity is not enough

regulated and uncontrolled, the bills sponsors state. Thus, the initiative

envisages to impose fines ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 rubles ($38 - 77) on

individuals, from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles ($77 - 155) on officials and from

30,000 to 60,000 rubles ($460 - 920) on companies for illegal private security

business.

Currently, fines varying

from 1,500 to 2,500 rubles set for individuals, from 2,000 to 3,000 rubles for

officials and from 20,000 to 30,000 rubles for companies. Repeated offenses of

this type, according to the draft law, would result in fines ranging from 2,500

to 5,000 rubles or community service for up to 200 hours for individuals.

Officials would face disqualification for up to 3 years; while legal entities

would be punished with fines ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 rubles ($800

1,500) or suspension of business activity for up to 90 days.

According to the government, the number of violations related to the

illegal private security activity is rising. Thus, in 2017, individuals

committed over 2,000 offenses, that is 20% more than in 2016.  In 2018,

3,169 people were held liable for these violations.