Study: 65% of women murdered in Russia were victims of domestic violence

Russian women are one of the most vulnerable groups in the world. Legislation for the protection of women’s rights in Russia is at a similar level to countries such as Liberia, Gabon, Iran, Yemen, and the UAE.

13.08.2021

From 2011 to 2019, 65% of all women murdered in Russia were victims of domestic violence. 52% of these women were murdered by their partners, with the remaining 13% suffering at the hands of other relatives.

Yet these statistics only include those who had formal charges brought against them, and do not account for crimes committed by partners outside of registered marriages, former spouses, or those in other intimate relationships with the victim.

The overwhelming majority of violent crimes are committed by men (85-88%). Up to 19% of those convicted end up receiving a lesser penalty, or simply have the sentence overturned.

The authors of the study emphasised that Russian women are some of the most vulnerable in the world. According to a report from the World Bank titled Women, Business and the Law in 2018, Russia scored zero points in the sphere of legislation for the protection of women’s rights. That is, no legislation in the country has been passed with regard to domestic violence or harassment in the workplace, and there is not a single article in the Criminal Code concerning sexual violence at work.

The study, which revealed the proportion of Russian women who have died as a result of domestic violence, was published by the Centre for the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence under the Consortium of Women’s NGOs. Source: https://www.asi.org.ru/news/2021/08/13/v-rossii-52-zhenshhin-ubity-partnerami/