Russia
Bill may effect freedom of speechPosted Jul 20 2007
Activists of opposition umbrella group The Other Russia had to visit 25 printing houses before finding one that would agree to publish their newspaper calling for an anti-Kremlin protest, The Moscow Times reported on June 27. The newspaper added that the task may become even harder after a bill on extremism is passed to law. The bill is awaiting its second reading in the State Duma. “This [bill] will increase the arbitrariness of law enforcement agencies and courts,” Marina Litvinovich, a spokeswoman for The Other Russia, told The Moscow Times. The Russian government's campaign is aimed at extremists, skinheads and other radical groups and includes fines for printers and publishers who print and distribute publications with extremist content.