Up to 4 years in prison: Russians warned of criminal liability for picking certain mushrooms
You can be held liable not only for collecting, but also for purchasing, storing, and transporting certain mushrooms.
They can either punish you with a fine or sentence you to prison.
Lawyer Ilya Rusyaev shared a comment on this topic, RIA Novosti reports.
In Russia, compulsory work, fines of up to 1 million rubles, and prison terms of up to 4 years are provided for collecting mushrooms listed in the Red Book.
Before going on a “silent hunt”, it is better to check the current list in order to avoid unpleasant consequences.
It is also worth considering the norms of regional laws. For example, in the Chelyabinsk region, it is forbidden to collect chanterelles with a cap diameter of less than 1.5 cm, and milk mushrooms - less than 2.5 cm.
Since 2023, amendments to the law concerning the protection of rare and endangered species of mushrooms have come into force in the Russian Federation. For example, the delicacy Matsutake mushroom has been included in this list.
The lawyer gave 3 rules that will help you stay within the law during a “silent hunt”:
1. Collect only familiar mushrooms.
2. Do not damage those mushrooms that you do not plan to put in the basket, including poisonous ones.
3. Refrain from collecting unusual and rare mushrooms.
