Lawyer assesses possible punishment for men who abused pigeons in Achinsk

What happened

In Krasnoyarsk Krai, according to media reports, two men abused pigeons, filmed what they were doing and posted the videos online. One of the birds, it is reported, was nailed to a wall with screws and then burned alive. Police have opened an inquiry into the incident.

What liability could they face

Lawyer Alexander Khaminsky, head of the Center for Law and Order in Moscow and Moscow Region, explained in a comment to Gazeta.Ru that, from a legal standpoint, killing a pigeon carries the same liability as cruelty to a dog or a cat: Article 245 of the Russian Criminal Code makes no distinction based on the species of the animal. According to him, criminal liability only requires establishing the elements of the offense — the intent to cause pain and suffering, as well as the death or injury of the animal. As of this year, cruelty to an animal resulting in its death is punishable by a fine of up to 80,000 rubles or imprisonment for up to three years. However, the lawyer noted, in this case the offense was committed by a group of persons using sadistic methods and with a public demonstration on the internet, so the punishment could reach five years of imprisonment.

Why this matters

The case shows that, formally, liability for cruelty extends to all animals, including birds, and that publicly displaying abuse online aggravates the suspects' position in itself. For residents of the region, the practical significance lies in the inquiry launched by the police: it is on the basis of its results that the question of opening a criminal case will be decided. The final classification of the men's actions is not yet known — the inquiry is ongoing.