[Russian State Duma Committee Recommends Passing Bill Criminalizing Cryptocurrency Violations, with a Maximum Sentence of 7 Years in Prison]
According to TASS, the Russian State Duma's State Building and Legislation Committee has recommended the first reading of a government-submitted bill that proposes criminal liability for violations of digital currency circulation laws, with a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison. The draft stipulates that illegal organization of cryptocurrency circulation causing significant losses or generating substantial income may result in fines, compulsory labor, or up to 4 years in prison. If carried out by an organized group or causing particularly significant losses, the sentence could be up to 7 years in prison and may include fines. The draft defines losses or income exceeding 3.5 million rubles as significant and those exceeding 13.5 million rubles as particularly significant. A complementary administrative penalty draft has also been recommended for a first reading, with fines for violations reaching up to 1 million rubles.