Russia’s security agency gains powers

July 20, 2010|Associated Press

MOSCOW — The upper house of Russia’s Parliament passed a bill yesterday granting expanded powers to the country’s main security agency, a move that critics say echoes the era of the Soviet KGB.

The bill, which goes to President Dmitry Medvedev to be signed into law, would allow the Federal Security Service to issue warnings to people suspected of preparing to commit crimes against Russia’s security.

Human rights and democracy activists say this power could be used to intimidate government opponents and stifle protests.

“This law is targeted against the opposition . . . It’s a Draconian law which is unprecedented in the world and is reminiscent of our repressive past,’’ Boris Nemtsov, a leader of the opposition Solidarity movement, was quoted as saying by the news agency Interfax.

The security service is the main successor agency to the KGB. The bill was approved by the upper house by a vote of 121 to 1. The sole vote against was cast by the house’s speaker, Sergei Mironov, who said he was apprehensive about the measure.

Opposition groups frequently are denied permission to hold rallies or can hold them only in out-of-the-way neighborhoods. Riot police often break up unsanctioned rally attempts.