The Federal Law aims to improve the legal framework for countering terrorism and extremism and ensure more effective criminal and administrative penalties for those who commit terrorism and extremism-related crimes.
In particular, the law recognises crimes committed in the aim of propagandising, justifying and supporting terrorism as an aggravating circumstance. Furthermore, the law abolishes prescription with regard to terrorism-related crimes.
The definition of what comes under terrorism as a crime has been changed in order to make criminal penalties for such crimes more effective.
Under the new provisions as set forth by the law, organising a terrorism-related crime and organising financing of terrorism can now be punished by 15–20 years imprisonment.
The law also toughens criminal penalties for undergoing training in the aim of carrying out terrorist activity, organising and taking part in a terrorist group, or organising and taking part in illegal armed groups.
Amendments have been made to the Russian Federation Administrative Offences Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, the Federal Law On Countering Terrorism, and the Federal Law On Combating Legalisation (Laundering) of the Proceeds of Crime and Financing Terrorism.