Editorial in the Vedomosti: New Warnings of a Return to Brezhnev Era
[This comment appeared as an editorial in Vedomosti. Richard Lourie will return to this spot in September.]
Russia’s security and law enforcement agencies have a case of summer fever. On Thursday, President Dmitry Medvedev signed a law that expands the powers of the Federal Security Service. The main provision allows the FSB to issue warnings to people whose actions “create the conditions for a crime.” The bill allows for 15-day sentences or fines of 500 rubles to 1,000 rubles ($16.50 to $33) for people who “obstruct the work” of an FSB agent.
But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Now, the government’s other security and law enforcement agencies are saying, “You gave the FSB more powers, what about us?”
For example, Vyacheslav Davydov, director of the Moscow department of the Federal Drug Control Service, wants to require nightclubs to close down after midnight. He thinks that this will help his agency battle drug use.
The traffic police are also joining the bandwagon. After the law regulating the minimum blood-alcohol level among drivers was annulled, police have become even more active arresting drivers on drunk-driving charges. Considering that the alcohol testers the police carry give positive results even if the only thing a driver had consumed was a bottle of kvas, it is easy to imagine what a boon this has been for the traffic police in terms of collecting bribes.
State Duma deputies are not missing this opportunity either. They have proposed a bill to allow the government to seize a person’s apartment if he is behind in payments for communal services by more than six months.
By all indications, this burst of activity is driven by two factors...
Read entire article at Moscow Times
Russia’s security and law enforcement agencies have a case of summer fever. On Thursday, President Dmitry Medvedev signed a law that expands the powers of the Federal Security Service. The main provision allows the FSB to issue warnings to people whose actions “create the conditions for a crime.” The bill allows for 15-day sentences or fines of 500 rubles to 1,000 rubles ($16.50 to $33) for people who “obstruct the work” of an FSB agent.
But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Now, the government’s other security and law enforcement agencies are saying, “You gave the FSB more powers, what about us?”
For example, Vyacheslav Davydov, director of the Moscow department of the Federal Drug Control Service, wants to require nightclubs to close down after midnight. He thinks that this will help his agency battle drug use.
The traffic police are also joining the bandwagon. After the law regulating the minimum blood-alcohol level among drivers was annulled, police have become even more active arresting drivers on drunk-driving charges. Considering that the alcohol testers the police carry give positive results even if the only thing a driver had consumed was a bottle of kvas, it is easy to imagine what a boon this has been for the traffic police in terms of collecting bribes.
State Duma deputies are not missing this opportunity either. They have proposed a bill to allow the government to seize a person’s apartment if he is behind in payments for communal services by more than six months.
By all indications, this burst of activity is driven by two factors...