Russia wants to lower political party membership age to 16

A group of Russian MPs led by Yaroslav Nilov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy, and Veterans Affairs, is set to submit a draft law proposing to lower the minimum age for joining political parties from 18 to 16, according to the text of the draft law seen by TASS.

The proposed amendments target the Law on Political Parties, which currently allows only Russian citizens aged 18 and older to become party members. The draft seeks to reduce this age threshold to 16.

According to the explanatory note, the bill aims to increase youth engagement in socio-political life.

The authors highlight that under current legislation, individuals aged 16 already bear administrative and criminal responsibility. Furthermore, the Russian Labor Code permits the signing of employment contracts from the age of 16.

“The proposed change will also grant legal status as party members to individuals aged 16 and above, who are already actively involved in political party activities,” the explanatory note emphasises.

By Khagan Isayev