Russian parliament votes to introduce life sentences for treason

FILE PHOTO: Russian lawmakers attend a plenary session of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, in Moscow, Russia April 11, 2023. Russian State Duma/Handout via REUTERS

(Reuters) - Russian lawmakers voted on Tuesday to introduce life sentences for those convicted of treason, part of a concerted drive since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine to step up punishment of dissenters and perceived traitors.

The lower house of parliament, the State Duma, also voted to increase maximum sentences for a range of terrorism and sabotage offences and introduced a new law that punishes those who help execute the legal decisions of international organisations that do not include Russia with up to five years in prison.