Russia's Liberal Democratic Party has suggested branding bribe takers with indestructible tags as a way of solving the country's deep-set corruption problem.
Party Deputies Sergei Ivanov and Igor Lebedev introduced a bill to Russia's State Duma (lower house of parliament) on Tuesday suggesting changes to the Russian Criminal Code.
The deputies suggested branding the left hands of corrupt officials with the Russian letter K for "bribe taker". They also proposed expanding the list of those subject to paying fines for giving or taking bribes to include government officials and local government employees.
They said that those who have served sentences on corruption charges do not have criminal records and so are not restricted when applying for jobs.
"The authors of the bill believe that branding bribe takers with indestructible marks in a visible place to show that they have committed a crime will enable employers to refuse them employment," the lawmakers said.
The Russian government and Supreme Court have criticized the initiative.
RIA Novosti
