Putin Signs New Anti-terror Bill into Law

Local Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a package of counter-terrorism measures, including tougher sentences for terrorism and extremism offences.

The measures, posted online by the government on Thursday, criminalize several offences and extend prison sentences for online crimes like abetting terrorism.

The document ordered up to 10 years of imprisonment for anyone engaging in international terrorism, and up to 15 years for anyone found guilty of financing terrorist groups.

The new bill lowers the age threshold for the imprisonment of terrorist convicts to 14 years from the current 16.

Besides, the package of anti-terror amendments boosts the surveillance powers for the security services. The most controversial part of the bill is the obligation for communication companies to keep information about their clients' data traffic for three years.

The anti-terrorist package of bills had been drafted in April 2016 by a group of lower house lawmakers, who described it as a response to the ongoing terrorist attacks in various parts of the world.

Some of its initial provisions were removed during hearings in the State Duma after many aspects of the document sparked broad public discussion.

Russia has been fighting militants since the mid-1990s in its North Caucasus region, where the republics of Chechnya, Dagestan, and Ingushetia have been the scene of sporadic attacks and militant clashes.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team