Russia deepens repression, targets children under new ‘sabotage’ law

Russia’s latest wave of repressive legislation signals a dangerous escalation in the Kremlin’s assault on basic human rights and civil freedoms that even extend to children. 

On Nov. 12, the State Duma passed a law that allows for the prosecution of minors as young as 14 for so-called  “sabotage” crimes. 

The restrictive measure also introduces life imprisonment for anyone accused of involving children in sabotage or “terrorist” activities, according to Ukrainska Pravda. 

“The State Duma unanimously adopted a law introducing life imprisonment for encouraging children to engage in terrorist or sabotage activities,” the State Duma said.

The law strips away fundamental legal safeguards by removing statutes of limitation for sabotage charges, restricts parole, and bans conditional sentencing for alleged members of sabotage groups. 

In practice, it gives Russian authorities sweeping power to impose the harshest penalties, even in politically motivated cases where due process is absent. 

The legislation is part and parcel of a broader crackdown that is designed to silence dissent and solidify state control. On Nov. 10, another law granted Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) authority to disconnect citizens from cell phone networks and the internet “in the interests of state security,” according to Ukraine’s National Resistance Center (NRC).

Telecommunications operators must now comply with FSB directives that allow the state to block communications and access to information without any judicial review. 

For millions of people living under Russian occupation in Ukraine, these measures further entrench a regime of fear and isolation. Independent media and online resources are already suppressed, and the new powers effectively cut residents off from the outside world. It leaves them surrounded by propaganda and surveillance. 

“This is another step toward complete information isolation in the occupied territories — leaving residents only with propaganda and fear instead of access to the truth,” the NRC said.

These recent developments underscore Russia’s deepening slide into authoritarianism, where even children can be treated as enemies of the state, and truth itself has become a target.