The State Duma adopted a law allowing authorities to euthanize homeless animals

In the third, final reading, the State Duma adopted a law allowing regional authorities to euthanize homeless animals.

According to the document, the authorities themselves will be able to determine the list and order of organization of “events” for the treatment of homeless animals “taking into account the geographical, climatic, socio-economic and other specifics of the region.”

Now in Russia there is a law “On responsible treatment of animals”, which directly prohibits cruel treatment – it threatens up to five years of imprisonment.

Animals can be euthanized only in the case of incurable diseases that cause them pain and suffering. In other cases, they are caught, sterilized and released to their former habitat – this is also prescribed in the regulatory acts of Russia.

The second legal method of dealing with homeless animals is lifelong maintenance in shelters at the expense of the budget.

Animal rights activists, public figures and cultural figures actively opposed the new draft law. Protest actions were held in dozens of Russian cities, in Moscow protesters gathered several times near the presidential administration building. More than 136 thousand people signed the petition against the law.