August 2, 2010
The Trumpet
The Federal Security Service (known as the FSB), Russia’s internal security service and successor to the kgb, now has the power to warn or detain those “whose acts create the conditions for the committing of a crime,” according to a bill signed into law by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on July 29.
Photo: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev chairs a session of the National Projects Council in the Kremlin on July 29. (Denis Sinyakov/AFP/Getty Images)
Anyone ignoring these warnings could be fined 1,000 rubles or jailed for 15 days.
The government claims the law is necessary to prevent terrorism, but its critics say that it will allow the government to crack down on any opposition even harder.
“It’s a step towards a police state,” said Communist Party member Vladimir Ulas. “It’s effectively a ban on any real opposition activity.”
Boris Nemtsov of the Solidarity opposition movement said, “This is a draconian law reminiscent of our repressive past.”
The law’s vague wording means that it is unclear how it will be enforced in practice. “It’s an ugly law with obscure formulas,” said Yulia Latynina, an independent political analyst, in an interview with the Associated Press. “In case a drunken FSB officer is shooting at you, and there have been many such cases, you might end up getting jailed for 15 days for merely trying to escape.”
Naturally, Russia’s rulers disagree. “Officers of law enforcement agencies have long talked about the necessity of switching from investigating crimes to their prevention,” said the head of Russia’s foreign affairs committee, Mikhail Margelov. “The amendments do not turn FSB into a new edition of once-almighty kgb but protect Russian citizens from outrages by men in uniform.”
The law has been toned down from its original wording, which allowed the FSB to summon potential suspects, and publish its warnings in the press.
Another bill being considered would bar anyone who has been convicted of an offense—even a minor one—from holding a public rally or protest. So an opposition member convicted of a traffic offense, such as speeding, for example, would be unable to organize a protest.
In another authoritarian move, Radio Free Europe reports there is growing speculation in the Russian media that Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (svr) is about to be absorbed by the FSB. This would, according to Radio Free Europe, “essentially recreate a monolith Russian spy agency reminiscent of the Soviet kgb.”
Most in Russia appear unconcerned with the new law. A July poll conducted by the Levada polling agency found that 67 percent of those surveyed hadn’t even heard of the bill. Only 3 percent said they were closely following it.
Some hoped that Medvedev would liberalize Russia. However, he took credit for this law in a meeting with Angela Merkel, saying, “What’s going on now—I would like you to know this—was done according to my own direct instructions.”
Medvedev is not going to change Russia’s course—he would have never been made president if that was his plan. Instead, expect Russia to consolidate its power over its own people. This will enable it to present a more powerful and united front to other nations.
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