Russia ready to discuss Kadyrov's polygamy proposal

The Russian Public Chamber has spoken in favor of holding a public hearing on the issue of legalizing polygamy (an appropriate initiative has been proposed by Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov), Pravo.ru reports.

«As a citizen of Russia, the Chechen president has a right to voice his opinion, and there is no point in denying this problem, especially in the republics of the Northern Caucasus. But at the same time it is obvious that the Russian legislation, specifically, the Family Code, does not allow polygamy,» Anatoly Kucherena, a member of the Russian Public Chamber, told Interfax on Tuesday.

Kucherena reiterated that polygamy is not a crime in Russia. «Unlike the old Criminal Code, the new Criminal Code does not envision any punishment for polygamy,» he said.

Ramzan Kadyrov earlier spoke in favor of legalizing polygamy in Chechnya, citing local traditions. «In Chechnya the number of women exceeds the number of men.

Chechen traditions and religion allow a man to have more than one wife. On the other hand, under Chechen customary law, if a girl has an extramarital affair, her brother must kill both her and her boyfriend. It is better for a woman to be a second or third wife than to be killed,» concluded Kadyrov.