Russian protestors say they have not given up hope of bringing in a new law to protect women, following President Vladimir Putin's recent signing of the decriminalization of domestic violence. They are also up against Russia's changing cultural norms that are becoming increasingly conservative.
According to ABC News, the domestic violence law was signed in early February, softening the penalties of domestic violence if the victim suffered no serious harm and it was not a repeat offence. Although there is no death penalty attached to battery offences, violence against a family member that did not cause serious physical injury could be punished up to two years in jail.
The director of the Russian International Affairs Council, Andrey Kortunov, explained the domestic violence law changes, saying Russia's prevailing moods are definitely becoming more conservative than they used to be. "There is general disappointment in liberalism. The country is more nationalistic," he said.
The latest step in this conservative shift is the decriminalization of domestic violence, a law that has gathered widespread condemnation. In facts, activists claim that they are already witnessing increased number of women being attacked in Russia, only because men consider themselves no longer being treated seriously over the offence.
After several attempts to get a permit to protest against Russia's new domestic violence law, dozens of people, mostly women, rallied on a snowy Sunday afternoon in a Moscow park. The crowd turned out smaller than expected and some blamed it on the fact the law had already been signed by Putin by the time they were allowed to legally gather.
The issue, however, has not sparked a great debate amongst Putin's young supporters. A youth movement called Project Set, continue to be proud of the direction of their leader in leading Russia. "I wouldn't say it's getting more patriarchal but it's more conservative," Tatiana Rybakova one of the members said, according to AU News.
Although there are internal rumblings over the changes of domestic violence law in Russia, a clearly defined shift in Russia becoming a conservative nation seems unstoppable. In fact, Putin is expected to seek re-election next year and continue shifting his country in that direction.
