The law aims at regulating social relations arising in conjunction with the implementation of measures for prevention of offenses. Prevention of offenses in the conduct of criminal and administrative proceedings, execution of sentences and other criminal sanctions is governed by other legislative acts.

One of the areas of application of this law is implementation of its provisions in the field of prevention of domestic violence. The law defines domestic violence as “intentional physical, psychological, sexual acts by a family member against another family member which violate the latter’s rights, freedoms and legitimate interests and cause physical and (or) mental suffering” (Article 1) and identifies individual and general measures to prevent and combat offenses of this type. Notable innovations of this law include introduction of restraining orders for protection of victims of domestic violence.

“A restraining order restricts certain behaviour of a person who has committed domestic violence. (Article 31).

A restraining order prohibits the person, against whom such an order has been issued, from:

- making attempts to find out the whereabouts of the victim(s) of domestic violence, if the victim(s) stay(s) in a place that is unknown to the abuser;

- visiting the whereabouts of the victim(s) of domestic violence, if the victim(s) temporarily stay(s) outside of the place of residence shared with the person, against whom a restraining order has been issued;

- contacting the victim(s) of domestic violence, inter alia, via phone or the Internet.”

The full text of the Law is available here (in Russian).