Russian treason bill could target Kremlin critics

Russian treason bill could target Kremlin critics



MOSCOW – Under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, people who fraternized with foreigners or criticized the Kremlin were "enemies of the people" and sent to the gulag. Now there's new legislation backed by Vladimir Putin's government that human rights activists say could throw Russia back to the days of the Great Terror.

The legislation, outspoken government critic and rights activist Lev Ponomaryov charged Wednesday, creates "a base for a totalitarian state."
Government supporters and Kremlin-allied lawmakers said the bill — submitted to the Kremlin-friendly parliament last week — will tighten up current law. Supporters say prosecutors often have trouble gaining convictions because of ambiguities in the definition of state treason.
The bill would add non-governmental organizations based anywhere in the world that have an office in Russia to the list of banned recipients of state secrets. The government has repeatedly accused foreign spy agencies of using NGOs as a cover to foment dissent.

Critics warned the loose wording will give authorities ample leeway to prosecute those who cooperate with international rights groups.
Under current treason statutes, some NGOs are not considered "foreign organizations," meaning a person who passes a state secret to an NGO might not be considered a traitor.

Full Article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081217/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_treason_law


If this isn't proof that Putin and his cronies need to be removed for power, nothing is.

Putinazi is trying to be Stalin. I pitty the Russian people. They are going to victims of facism again real soon.

Hopefully, the will rise up and get Putinazi out of office before he has to much blood on his hands.

:doh

This kind of legislation has appeared in many countries over the past 8 years due to the U.S. initiatives in the "war on terror". Many governments have expanded their powers and reduced domestic freedoms under the guise of self-defense. Putin is simply acting in accordance with the standard that the West has recently created. I don't think it will reach Stalinist proportions, but there will definitely be people dragged away in the night with no recourse.

Sadly, this is the era we are now entering.

Andre Lugavoi, the man that Great Britain wishes to try for the murder of Litvinenko in London is reported to have stated that dissenters should be treated as Traitors and should be executed, even if they are within or without Russia.