The State Duma makes changes to the RF Code of Administrative Offences subsequent to the so-called platinum axes case won by Elena Sokova (S&K Vertical) at the RF Constitutional Court

According to materials of the State Duma, today the State Duma Committee for Constitutional Legislation and State Construction suggested the Chamber to entertain the draft amendments to the RF Code of Administrative Offences related to conditions and procedure to be used when confiscating an instrument of an administrative offence

This document was elaborated by the Ministry of Justice of Russia and submitted to the State Duma by the RF Government on August 15, 2012.

The bill suggests bringing articles 3.7 and 8.28 of the RF Code of Administrative Offences (which stipulate responsibility for illegal felling, and damaging forest ranges using mechanisms, wheeled transport, self-propelled vehicles and other facilities, if such acts do not involve criminal offenses) to conformity with legal views of the RF Constitutional Court.

Let's remind that, on April 25, 2011 the RF Constitutional Court by its Resolution No. 6-П declared these articles as unconformable with the RF Constitution to the extent that the said articles allow for confiscation of an instrument of an administrative offense owned by a person who was not held financially liable and was not declared guilty of this offense.