The lawyer recalled the criminal liability for the lotus trade

Bouquets with lotuses, which are listed in the Red Book, are gaining popularity online. Alexander Khaminsky, a lawyer and head of the Law Enforcement Center in Moscow and the Moscow Region, told Izvestia on April 1 about the threat of harvesting wild lotuses.

"The Red Book is an official document containing a set of information about rare and endangered species of wild animals, wild plants and fungi. Wild lotus also belongs to such plants," Khaminsky noted.

According to him, river pollution, dam construction and massive illegal gathering by tourists have become the reasons for the reduction of the natural range of the lotus, which is found mainly in the Astrakhan region, Krasnodar Territory and the Far East. It is illegal to sell these plants or collect them for the purpose of sale, and serious sanctions are provided for this.

"The sale of such plants may entail both administrative and criminal liability if the damage is recognized as major," the lawyer emphasized.

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However, as the lawyer emphasized, in order to grow a lotus for decorative purposes, it is necessary to purchase its seeds or seedlings only in specialized nurseries or shops, with supporting documents. Lotuses harvested in the wild cannot be used for cultivation without proper permits.

Citizens face fines of up to 5,000 rubles for collecting Red Book plants. However, if it turns out that the lotus was collected for sale, this may lead to a criminal case under Article 260.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, punishable by a fine of up to 1 million rubles or imprisonment for up to 4 years.

"It should be borne in mind that in addition to the fine, the violator will have to pay damages calculated according to special standards for each thwarted escape," Khaminsky concluded.

Alyona Ameranova, the founder of the Rosa flower salon, announced on March 4 that the popular dopamine bouquet differs from the classic one in its bright and noticeable color palette, which helps to increase the level of happiness hormones. According to the expert, a dopamine bouquet causes an increase in the level of happiness hormones not only in the recipient, but also in others due to its brightness.

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