Bill de-criminalizing domestic violence passed in Russia

Domestic violence in Russia is no longer a crime. The people of Russia, seem to think that slapping one's spouse a slap is okay.
Deputies in the lower house of parliament, in a bid to accommodate conservative voters, have given initial approval to a bill abolishing criminal liability for domestic violence that does not involve serious bodily harm or rape. Russia's parliament on Friday, voted 380-3 to decriminalize domestic violence in cases where it does not cause "substantial bodily harm" and does not occur more than once a year. The move, which eliminates criminal liability in such cases, makes a violation punishable by a fine of roughly $500, or a 15-day arrest, provided there is no repeat within 12 months. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists that family conflicts do "not necessarily constitute domestic violence." Andrei Isayev of the main Kremlin faction, the United Russia, said lawmakers are “heeding the public call” by correcting a mistake they made last year.