Marriage Allowed at 14, but Maybe No Sex

[Guest MrRant]

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's parliament approved a draft law Wednesday lowering the minimum marriage age to 14, but such youthful unions could be chaste affairs if a bill to raise the age of consent to 16 is passed by the same lawmakers.

 

The bill allows Russians aged between 14 and 16 to wed subject to approval by local authorities and under "special circumstances."

 

It said local officials would determine what qualified as special circumstances, although a list later dropped from the bill had mentioned pregnancy or the birth of a child.

 

Parental consent is not obligatory but will be taken into account, and the authorities' decision can be appealed in court.

 

The current minimum age for marriage is 16.

 

Deputies in the State Duma lower house of parliament passed the marriage bill unanimously in a third and final reading. Now it must be approved by the upper chamber Federation Council and then finally signed into law by President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites).

 

It comes into force six months after it has been officially published.

 

But in direct contrast to the marriage law, the Duma in June approved the first reading of a bill which aims to raise the age of sexual consent to 16 from 14. It also outlaws child pornography and introduces new penalties for luring children into the sex trade.

 

The bill has yet to go to a second reading.

 

Russians generally marry younger than their Western counterparts, often straight out of school or university, and the country's divorce rate is among the highest in the world -- some studies say as high as 65 percent.

 

In some Muslim regions, such as Tatarstan, Chechnya (news - web sites) and Ingushetia, polygamy is not strictly legal but does happen.

 

They are just now getting around to outlawing child porn and give penalties to luring children into the sex trade?

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

In Quebec, I believe it is 12 for females. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

TWELVE? Sick french fuckers.

[Guest Choken One]

Maybe French Chicks mature quicker though...

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

Man, if you've ever been to Quebec you'd know that those Frenchies can be decieving. I ran into many a girl in my hotel while vacationing there that claimed to be 18 but I later found out were 14 and 15.

[Guest RevEvil]

I guess I got to go to Quebec to get some beaver.

 

 

 

 

 

 

referring to the animal of course.

Ouais, c'est le billet.

[Guest RenegadeX28]

Hmmmmmmm....12??? THAT IS SICK! **Shudders**