Russian parliament backs "anti-extremism" bill

By Staff
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MOSCOW, June 28 (Reuters) Russian deputies today gave initial approval to new legislation aimed at curbing ''extremist activity'' that critics say could help the Kremlin further stifle Russia's already weak opposition.

The law would make it possible to ban a party or candidate from politics if they made a speech that encouraged others to take action seen by authorities as extremist. Enforcement will depend on the government's definition of extremist, critics say.

''This measure is aimed at silencing society so that it does not protest against what the authorities are doing,'' said Oleg Shein, member of the nationalist Rodina party.

Rodina was barred from Moscow city elections for broadcasting a racist campaign advert. The party said it was being punished for being too successful.

The pro-Kremlin United Russia party that dominates the Duma lower house of parliament says the law is necessary to combat both an increase in race hate attacks and Islamist militancy in Russia's troubled Caucasus.

It passed its first reading easily: 337 deputies in favour and 75 against. The law has to pass two more readings and the upper house before President Vladimir Putin can sign it into law.

''The Communists and Rodina oppose the legislation because they have nothing to offer the people, they have no real programmes. They only do things that push people towards extremism,'' said United Russia's Pavel Voronin.

The law could be seen by the West as further evidence that Russia under Putin is becoming less democratic, a tense subject ahead of the Group of Eight summit to be held in St Petersburg on July 15-17.

Russians are due to vote in parliamentary elections next year, followed in 2008 by a poll to choose Putin's successor. By law he cannot serve a third term.

Reuters SHR RS2054

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