Mandatory sentencing

The main defendant, Ilias Michos, aged 55, in the Kolonos case for the sexual abuse and exploitation of a 12-year-old girl, will remain in prison for 20 years, which is the minimum term of the total 27 years imposed on him after the Athens mixed jury combined his sentences on Monday. 

Belgrade's Court of Appeals has confirmed the two-year sentence handed down to Bosnian Serb ex-fighter Zeljko Budimir for beating up a civilian and stealing his money in the village of Rejzovici in Bosnia's Kljuc municipality in November 1992.

There are 15 of them, ranging from the crime of murdering representatives of the highest state authorities to genocide. Sentences of 30 to 40 years in prison will be abandoned, so Serbian judges will have to choose between 20 years and life imprisonment when sentencing people so convicted.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan approved a bill on Dec. 2 that will gradually increase sentences for the sexual abuse of children nine days before a Constitutional Court annulment over the content of the crime goes into effect. 

According to the new law, there will be a distinction made between victims aged under 12 and those aged between 12 and 18.

BELGRADE - Amendments to the penal code, introduction of new crimes and stricter minimum and maximum sentences will be a part of measures aimed at fighting various forms of domestic and social violence and bullying, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic announced Friday.