New law boosts KGB successor
Source: Agencies |
July 30, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
RUSSIANS may now face jail time for crimes they have not yet committed under a new security law signed yesterday by President Dmitry Medvedev.
The law restores Soviet-era powers to the Federal Security Service, the KGB's main successor agency.
The agency, known by its initials FSB, can now issue warnings or detain people suspected of preparing to commit crimes against Russia's security. Perpetrators face fines or up to 15 days of detention.
The new law was described as part of an effort to combat extremism and thwart terrorist attacks. It was submitted to Russian lawmakers in April after twin subway bombings in Moscow killed 40 people.
A senior lawmaker said the new powers will protect people from abuse by law enforcement officers.
"Officers of law enforcement agencies have long talked about the necessity of switching from investigating crimes to their prevention," said Mikhail Margelov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of Russian parliament. "The amendments do not turn the FSB into a new edition of the once-almighty KGB but protect Russian citizens from outrages by men in uniform."
Some of the law's most stringent sections, including ones that toughen control over the media for "extremist statements" or allow the FSB to publish warnings in the press, were removed or toned down following severe criticism from the opposition.
"This is not a repressive law," Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, told Gazeta.ru online daily. "We're only talking about preventive measures."
The opposition has accused the Kremlin of turning Russia into a Soviet-style police state, and many Russians say they have experienced or fear abuse at the hands of FSB officers.
Medvedev, who initiated the bill, responded angrily to criticism of it. He said earlier this month that "each country has the right to perfect its legislation."
The law restores Soviet-era powers to the Federal Security Service, the KGB's main successor agency.
The agency, known by its initials FSB, can now issue warnings or detain people suspected of preparing to commit crimes against Russia's security. Perpetrators face fines or up to 15 days of detention.
The new law was described as part of an effort to combat extremism and thwart terrorist attacks. It was submitted to Russian lawmakers in April after twin subway bombings in Moscow killed 40 people.
A senior lawmaker said the new powers will protect people from abuse by law enforcement officers.
"Officers of law enforcement agencies have long talked about the necessity of switching from investigating crimes to their prevention," said Mikhail Margelov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of Russian parliament. "The amendments do not turn the FSB into a new edition of the once-almighty KGB but protect Russian citizens from outrages by men in uniform."
Some of the law's most stringent sections, including ones that toughen control over the media for "extremist statements" or allow the FSB to publish warnings in the press, were removed or toned down following severe criticism from the opposition.
"This is not a repressive law," Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, told Gazeta.ru online daily. "We're only talking about preventive measures."
The opposition has accused the Kremlin of turning Russia into a Soviet-style police state, and many Russians say they have experienced or fear abuse at the hands of FSB officers.
Medvedev, who initiated the bill, responded angrily to criticism of it. He said earlier this month that "each country has the right to perfect its legislation."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
