Medvedev orders rework of Putin’s treason bill
The legislation would expand the definition of treason and add NGOs to the list of banned recipients of state secrets.
President Medvedev has ordered his administration to rework a controversial treason bill submitted by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s cabinet, the Associated Press, reports.
When the bill was submitted to the State Duma in December last year BarentsObserver.com wrote that Russian non-governmental organizations feared that the new legislation could be used to step up pressure on their organizations.
Medvedev has taken note of public criticism of the bill and ordered a review to prevent the measure from curtailing human rights, his first deputy chief of staff Vladislav Surkov said, according to the state-connected ITAR-Tass and RIA-Novosti news agencies.
The Associated Press writes on Tuesday 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.
-The head of state has paid attention to the opinions on the issue that have been voiced in the media and society in general, Surkov was quoted as saying. -The bill will be reworked.
Much of the Barents cooperation is based on contact and common projects between NGOs in the member countries.
