When President Vladimir Putin rejected legislation narrowing freedom of the press last autumn, experienced journalists restrained their enthusiasm. They knew that the lawless Russian state does not need statutory changes in order to erode human rights. The fact that the Kremlin was considering the idea was enough to intimidate.
A Russian government task force is now refining proposals to outlaw "religious extremism." The task force, led by the nationalities minister Vladimir Zorin and Moscow-appointed Chechen leader Akhmad Kadyrov, evidently believes that this category includes almost every religious entity not servile to the Russian state -- including all Roman Catholics and most Protestants. Its draft report proposes "technical intelligence measures" against suspected "religious extremists," and six-year prison sentences for those found guilty.
"The MoscowTimes", 24 ÿíâàðÿ 2003 [âñÿ ñòàòüÿ]
