| Five out of ten prefectures of Moscow administrative districts
banned the YABLOKO party from organising pickets near metro stations
on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the disaster Chernobyl
nuclear power station. However, according to the YABLOKO press
service, on April 25 and April 26 the party will distribute leaflets
to about 100 metro stations, Deputy of the State Duma Sergei Mitrokhin:
the adoption of the draft law on combating extremism will make
it possible to fight both certain individuals and corresponding
organisational structures
The Yabloko faction in the State Duma thinks it necessary to
adopt a law "On Combating Extremism" in view of the outbreak of
extremism and signs pointing to the formation of an extremist
underground in Russia," Sergei Mitrokhin, a member of the Yabloko
faction in the State Duma, told journalists. According to Mitrokhin,
the law “will make it possible to fight both individuals
professing and popularising extremist ideas, but also corresponding
organisational structures”
At the same time, Mitrokhin noted that the "draft law adopted
in the first reading contains a number of norms which can serve
as an instrument of suppression of constructive opposition to
the present authorities." And the vagueness of a number of of
the key phrases, including the term 'extremism' makes it possible
to declare any organisation opposed to the authorities as 'illegal,"
stressed Sergei Mitrokhin.
When discussing the draft law in the second reading the Yabloko
faction will propose a number of amendments to the Duma. In particular,
it proposed deleting from the definition of extremism the words
about declaring illegal actions aimed at hindering "the legal
activity of the federal executive authorities, the executive authorities
of subjects of the Russian Federation and local government." In
addition, according to Yabloko suspended of the activity of public
organisations suspected of extremism should be implemented only
by decision of the Supreme Court.
Yabloko also thinks that the mention of "another state body"
other than the Ministry of Justice, which would be called upon
to check the appearance of extremist manifestations, should be
deleted from the text. According to the Yabloko faction, these
amendments to the draft law would prevent attempts to use this
law as an instrument of political pressure, while retaining all
the possibilities for an active fight against any manifestations
of extremism. "In the first reading of the draft law the Yabloko
faction voted for this law, rendering it conditional support,
said Mitrokhin. - We think that the second reading will be principled
and the voting of the faction will be consolidated in this case.
Yabloko will support the law, if the most important amendments
are introduced into the law."
See also:
YABLOKO
Against Extremism
Press Release.
June 19, 2002. The Yabloko faction will support the draft
law "On Combating Extremist Activity" in the second reading if
Yabloko's amendments to the draft law are adopted.
RIA "Novosti". June
20, 2002. The Yabloko
faction of the State Duma: we need to pass a law against extremism
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