Michael de Laine

Putin’s controversial treason bill to be revised

By Michael de Laine, Copenhagen, 29^th January 2009

Proposed legislation that would expand the definition of treason and add NGOs to the list of banned recipients of state secrets to be revised following criticism.

A controversial bill about treason, tabled in the State Duma last December by Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin, is to be revised on the orders of president Dmitry Medvedev, newswires report.

The ITAR-Tass and RIA-Novosti news agencies cited Medvedev’s first deputy chief of staff Vladislav Surkov as saying that Medvedev has taken note of public criticism of the bill and ordered a review to prevent the measure from curtailing human rights.

“The bill will be reworked,” Surkov said.

Associated Press said on Tuesday that it is unclear whether the move represents a rift between Putin and his protege, Medvedev, or simply means that authorities have decided to back off on a bill that prompted comparisons with the era of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Since Medvedev’s inauguration last May, observers have been watching closely for signs of a break with the policies of Putin, a long-time KGB officer who rolled back democratic achievements and tightened Kremlin control during his eight-year presidency.

Medvedev, a former law professor, has often spoken about the need to uphold the law and stressed civil rights in his inaugural address.

Associated Press added that the move to rework the bill follows two occasions this month when Medvedev criticized the cabinet’s approach to the financial crisis, prompting speculation of emerging tensions with Putin.

Human rights activists have warned that the bill, submitted to parliament last month, could potentially allow authorities to brand any government critic a traitor.

When the bill was submitted to the State Duma in December last year, newswire BarentsObserver.com said Russian non-governmental organizations feared they would be subjected to even greater pressure as a result of the new legislation.

The legislation would expand the definition of treason and add NGOs to the list of banned recipients of state secrets. The Putin government has repeatedly accused foreign spy agencies of using NGOs as a cover to foment dissent.

Critics warned that the loose wording would give authorities ample leeway to prosecute those who cooperate with international rights groups.

A group of prominent Russian rights activists said,“the legislation in the spirit of Stalin and Hitler.”

Surkov acknowledged there was a danger of loose interpretation of such notions as state secret, espionage and state treason.

Putin, who has not commented publicly on the bill, is widely seen as still calling the shots in Russia, and has not ruled out a return to the presidency, said Associated Press.

Barred from seeking a third straight term as president, Putin backed Medvedev as his successor and became prime minister the day after his protege’s inauguration.