Sidyakin told RIA Novosty that the cause for this law was Pussy Riot punk-rock performance in Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The criminal case for hooliganism was started after that performance, when masked girls from Pussy Riot sang profane songs about Putin and the Patriarch in front of the church altar.
The author of the law said current fines are "minuscule and cannot deter persons who offend citizens' religious feelings, defile items of worship, the symbols of their philosophy. He also said that he thinks it is much more humane than the criminal article on hooliganism, which, when planned and executed by the group, could end up with 7 years in jail.
«The law's severity can lead to an imbalance of humanity and justice in the relationship between state and church. So, we need to sever the administrative responsibility that could be an alternative to criminal cases, i.e. article 213 of the Russian Criminal code (Hooliganism)," he says explaining the law project.
The author suggests fines for offending religious feelings be increased to 10,000 rubles (approx. $330).
Also, the amendment to Administrative code offers 15 days in jail for "actions, committed with special cynicism towards items, signs and insignia worshipped be citizens".
Now the fine is only 500 to 1000 rubles for such offences. Artists, questioning the role of religion, can be held responsible under criminal law for inciting religious or social hatred, which could lead to a 2 year prison term.