Criminal Code Provisions, Offences, Punishments & Reporting Process
Cyber crimes in Russia are governed mainly by the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Chapter 28 specifically addresses crimes involving computers, networks and digital information. Serious offences can lead to multi‑year imprisonment.
| Article | Offence | Description | Punishment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art. 272 | Illegal Access | Unauthorized access to protected computer information | Fine or imprisonment up to 5–7 years |
| Art. 273 | Malware | Creation, use or distribution of malicious software/viruses | Up to 7 years imprisonment |
| Art. 274 | System Interference | Violation of computer/network operation rules causing damage | Up to 4 years imprisonment |
| Art. 159.6 | Computer Fraud | Fraud or theft using IT systems or manipulation of data | Up to 10 years imprisonment (large scale) |
| Art. 137 | Privacy Violation | Illegal collection or disclosure of personal data | Fine or imprisonment |
| Art. 183 | Commercial Secrets | Stealing banking or business confidential data | Fine or imprisonment |