The baiting of wild animals in Russia

A
exposé of hunting dog training stations
Animal protection legislation in Russia
A global review of animal protection legislation carried out by the World Society for the Protection of Animals
(WSPA) reveals that Russia lags behind many countries, having no legislation for fifteen of the sixteen areas
researched 110 .
The only protection for animals referenced for Russia in this review is the limited protection of animals against
physical suffering under the Criminal Code: Part 2, Section IX, Chapter 25, Article 245, which states 111 :
1. Cruelty to animals that has involved their death or injury, if this deed has been conducted with malicious or
mercenary motives, or the use of sadistic methods, or in the presence of minors, shall be punishable by a fine in the
amount of 100 to 200 minimum wages, or in the amount of the wage or salary, or any other income of the convicted
person for a period of one to two months, or by corrective labour for a term of up to one year, or by arrest for a
term of up to six months.
2. The same act committed by a group of persons, a group of persons in a preliminary conspiracy, or an organised
group, or repeatedly, shall be punishable by a fine in the amount of 500 to 800 minimum wages, or in the amount
of the wage or salary, or any other income of the convicted person for a period of five to eight months, or by
deprivation of liberty for a term of up to two years.
On first reading it would seem that this legislation might be utilised to prevent the suffering of wild animals in hunting
dog training stations. However, an attempt by Russian animal protection campaigners to use it failed some years
ago because the responsible authorities advised that hunting dog training stations were legal and that events
complied with regulations 112 . This despite veterinary evidence from examining the bear that was the subject of the
case that found the animal to be malnourished, malformed, undersized, underweight, injured and suffering because
of cramped living conditions and inadequate care 113 .
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