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The Facebook comments by an Oklahoma deputy sheriff came in response to Russia passing a new law decriminalizing domestic violence cases where “substantial bodily harm” does not occur.

This week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new law that decriminalizes domestic violence cases where “substantial bodily harm” does not occur, making incidents where the victim suffers “minor harm” — such as small lacerations and bruising — a misdemeanor.

Alexander Zemlianichenko / AFP / Getty Images

After the bill was passed in Russian Parliament, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that family conflicts do “not necessarily constitute domestic violence.”

The legislation eliminates criminal liability in these cases, making a violation punishable by a $500 fine or 15 days in jail, provided there is no repeat offense within a year.

The controversial new Russian law triggered outrage in one Oklahoma community after a Cleveland County deputy sheriff posted comments that he might support similar legislation.

The comment by Stephen Teel, from Norman, Oklahoma, sparked an intense back and forth between the law enforcement officer and others in the Facebook thread, still visible here.

Facebook

In additional comments in the thread that were forwarded to BuzzFeed News, Teel wrote about his “frustration” with victims who stay in a relationship despite abuse, adding “I have a problem empathizing with people that don’t help themselves.”

Facebook / Via Facebook: jenny.ellis2

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