Putin giving luvvies
© putnik/ Alexei Druzhinin
Russian President Vladimir Putin shares the position of those who oppose cruelty against animals and says there may be a legislative initiative aimed at increasing penalty for such crimes, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday

On Saturday, a rally against the animal cruelty was held in Moscow, demanding introduction of stronger punishments under article 245 of the Criminal Code. The rally took place after two young women suspected of extreme animal cruelty were arrested in Russia's Khabarovsk Krai.

"Certainly, the president believes that such legislative initiative would have the right to exist, this is likely to be related to the position of the animal rights defenders, who oppose animal abuse. The president shares [the position of those who] stand against the cases of cruelty to animals and he is in full solidarity with those who oppose [the cruelty]," Peskov told journalists.

Peskov added that the issue of strengthening responsibility for committing crimes against animals through endorsing legislative amendments should be addressed by experts in the relevant area and legislative bodies.