The law was considered at the Senate’s 20th plenary session on October 2. It amends the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Code of Administrative Responsibility to strengthen the legal framework for combating organized crime.
Under the amendments, criminal liability for hooliganism committed by an organized group will begin at age 14. People who finance the activities of criminal organizations, as well as those who use official authority to facilitate the creation of such organizations or conceal crimes committed by them, will be barred from early conditional release.
The Criminal Code will also introduce specific liability for financing the activities of a criminal organization.
At the same time, a person involved in financing a criminal organization may be exempted from criminal liability if they actively help prevent serious consequences or the organization from achieving its objectives, promptly inform the authorities about its activities or provide other assistance, provided their actions do not constitute another crime.
The law also toughens penalties for hooliganism. Causing particularly large-scale damage, deliberately destroying or damaging another person’s property, and committing hooliganism as part of an organized group will be treated as aggravating circumstances.
Liability will also be increased for intentionally causing serious bodily injury during an act of hooliganism, including cases in which the injuries result in the victim’s death.
In addition, the amendments establish liability for illegally organizing or holding competitions involving combat sports.
The changes come amid a rise in crimes committed by organized groups. In 2023, 199 organized groups involving 958 people committed 582 crimes. The figures rose to 382 groups involving 1,226 people and 2,270 crimes in 2024.
In 2025, 373 organized groups involving 1,196 people committed 3,003 crimes. During the first eight months of 2026, 292 groups involving 789 people were responsible for 2,516 crimes.
The Senate was also told that 119 deaths resulting from intentionally inflicted serious bodily injuries were recorded in 2024. The figure rose to 125 in 2025 and stood at 78 in the first eight months of 2026. A total of 322 people died from such injuries between 2024 and August 2026.
