Amendments to the article on facilitating sabotage activities

On 17 November 2025, amendments (Federal Law № 420-FZ of 17 November 2025) to Article 281.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, "Assistance to sabotage activities," came into force.

Persuading, recruiting or otherwise involving a minor in the commission of at least one of the crimes provided for in Article 281 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, arming or training a minor for the purpose of committing such crimes, became punishable by 10 to 20 years' imprisonment.

Previously, there was no such distinction.

This way the legislator emphasises the increased public danger of the actions of a person involved in subversive activities involving minors.

It has been just under three years since Article 281 was introduced into the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. This indicates that the law was not sufficiently developed before its adoption.