No liability is currently provided for carrying edged weapons. This act as a separate corpus delicti was excluded from the Criminal Code in 2003.
It should be noted that previously the illegal carrying of cold steel was punished in a criminal order, however, the corresponding norm was excluded from the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation back in 2003.
Carrying cold steel in the current state of criminal and administrative legislation is not considered an illegal act. In other words, the owner of such a weapon, in the absence of signs of any other violations, is not in danger.
Criminal liability in relation to cold steel has been established only for actions related to its illegal sale and manufacture. Carrying edged weapons does not constitute a crime, since no responsibility is provided for in the current edition of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
Is there an administrative liability for carrying knives?
In addition, in order to prosecute according to the specified norm, it will be necessary to prove the fact of violation of the rules for storing cold weapons, which in this case is not seen.
When an act is excluded from criminal law, a new composition of an administrative offense usually appears. But with regard to carrying edged weapons, such a composition is also absent. The only rule, the provisions of which in any way can be attributed to such actions is Article 20.8, which provides for administrative liability for violations of the rules for storing cold steel.
However, carrying and storing are different actions, therefore, the question of the possibility of attracting according to this rate when the facts of carrying cold steel are detected is controversial.
What is the maximum punishment for carrying edged weapons?
If, nevertheless, it is possible to impose a punishment for carrying cold steel on the basis of Article 20.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, then the maximum possible measure of responsibility for an ordinary citizen will be the imposition of a fine of 500-2000 rubles.
In addition, the decision of any official or body on bringing to such responsibility for carrying cold steel can be successfully appealed, since the norm does not provide for direct responsibility for such acts. Taking into account its wording, during the judicial examination of the case, the authorized body will face serious problems when proving the facts of violation of the rules for storing cold steel, since only for this can a punishment be imposed.
The current legislation does not provide for other types of liability for carrying knives.
