controversial law expands police powers

controversial law expands police powers

President Vladimir Putin signed this law, which was passed, and which expands the powers of the police. In Russia, there is no longer a need for a warrant to search a vehicle and search a house.

With our correspondent in Moscow, Anissa El Jabri

Until now, the police only entered the homes of people classified as “suspect” without a warrant. Except that this classification, in Russia, was already very broad, and obtaining a mandate a formality.

Police can now search personal belongings, ” if they have reason to have suspicion “. Now they are allowed to cordon off not only crime scenes but also all mass gatherings, and finally other areas – simply and very loosely – defined as ” dangerous For citizens.

The law had been waiting for a year and a half

It has been a year and a half since this law, which was controversial in Russia, awaited the signature of President Putin. Even the very wise Russian Human Rights Commission criticized her.

Almost every day sees its share of announcements of tightening public freedoms in Russia. This week, the reputed liberal Moscow School of Economics was assigned a security official who is none other than a FSB officer. Many teachers have already been fired this year in the wake of the February protests, following the return ofAlexei Navalny.

►Also read: Russia: the authorities have undermined the right to demonstrate, believes Amnesty International

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