12:18, 29 June 2016

Federation Council refuses to reject package of anti-terrorism laws

The Federation Council sesssion. Photo: http://www.council.gov.ru

108 members of the Federation Council have voted against the proposal of senator Belyakov to postpone the consideration of a package of anti-terrorism laws adopted by the State Duma. 16 senators voted in support of the proposal, and 11 others abstained.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on 24 June, the State Duma approved a package of anti-terrorism laws.

Senator Belyakov has explained his position by saying that the laws in the package are "very controversial."

According to RIA "Novosti", Mikhail Fedotov, the chairman of the Presidential Human Rights Council (HRC), has called on the Federation Council to reject the package of anti-terrorism laws, to create a conciliation commission with the State Duma, and to finalize the document after the elections.

Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council, has stated that in case if the Federation Council postponed the consideration of the package of anti-terrorism law, then, according to the Constitution, the laws would go directly to the President of Russia for signing without the participation of the senators.

In particular, the amendments to the laws introduce the definition for "missionary activity" and prohibit carrying it on behalf of religious associations which objectives contradict the laws. The number of the types of missionary activities prohibited by the law also included "the missionary activity aimed at violating the public safety and order."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.