01:05, 19 April 2014

State Duma adopts tougher counterterrorism measures in second reading

Law enforcement officers and by-passers at the unsanctioned rally in support of Said Amirov in the centre of Makhachkala. April 12, 2014. Photo by Patimat Makhmudova for the ‘Caucasian Knot’.

On April 18, the bill aimed at tightening the anti-terrorism legislation was adopted in the second reading by 348 Russian State Duma MPs. The third reading is scheduled for April 22, says the website of the Duma.

The innovations include the right granted to FSB agents not only check people's IDs, but also to conduct personal search of people and their belongings, and inspect their cars, if there are reasons to suspect them of committing crimes, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

The bill was criticized by experts and human rights activists; thus, the Information-Analytical Centre "Sova" believes that the new provisions may lead to arbitrariness of law enforcement bodies. In the opinion of Alexander Perendjiev, a member of the association of military political scientists, instead of tightening the legislation, the authorities should coordinate their work with public and religious organizations.