MOSCOW—Russian lawmakers voted Friday to remove domestic violence from the country’s criminal code, making abuse punishable by fines rather than a prison sentence. Activists say the bill, which must be passed by the upper house of parliament and signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin before it becomes law, is a step back after years of pushing for a comprehensive law to combat domestic violence in Russia. The bill, which...

Source: Wall Street Journal January 27, 2017 13:12 UTC