After the Russian State Duma approved the bill in a third and final reading on Friday, the Federation Council today gave its approval to the new law that will give the Federal Security Service FSB the right to issue warnings to people it believes are about to commit a crime, newspaper Vedomosti reports.
The original bill, which was passed in the first of three required readings in the State Duma in June included a clause that citizens who “disobey a legitimate order” from an FSB agent would face up to 15 days in prison, as BarentsObserver reported.
The approved bill states that disregard for an FSB officer’s legitimate order by officials carries a fine or an administrative arrest of up to 15 days. But the provision does not concern private individuals, Russia Today reports.
Many human rights activists and politicians have criticized the bill, claiming that the proposed regulations could be used to detain opposition activists and independent journalists.
For the new law to become effective, it has to be signed by President Dmitry Medvedev.
