As
previously reported, earlier this month the Russian Duma (lower house of Parliament) passed amendments to the Russian Criminal Code to punish insulting the religious beliefs and feelings of citizens. Yesterday the law was approved by the Federation Council (the upper house of Parliament). (
Legislative history in Russian). The bill must still be signed by President Vladimir Putin in order for it to become law. Today the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a
press release strongly critical of the new law, saying in part:
The bill now awaits only a presidential signature before becoming law, most likely on July 1. The bill would punish alleged offenses against religious sentiments by up to three years in prison.
“With space for free expression shrinking rapidly in Russia, enactment of this bill would further erode human rights protections in Russia,” said U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett. “Speech limitations violate Russia’s international commitments, and this law will lead to abuse and arbitrary rulings against permissible speech that some deem ‘offensive..... [I]f enacted, this new law gives credence to the view Russian human rights activists expressed to me that Russia is in full retreat from democracy and the rule of law.”
UPDATE:
Radio Free Europe reported on June 30 the President Putin signed the bill into law, along with a second controversial bill that prohibits disseminating to minors any propaganda involving "nontraditional sexual relations."
