Duma Deputy: Amendments Need To Be Made To Terrorism Legislation

At the opening today of the second international conference, "The Global Community in the Fight Against Terrorism", chairman of the State Duma security community Alexander Gurov said that amendments and addenda had to be made to Russian legislation dealing with terrorism. The conference is being held in Moscow as part of the fifth international forum on resources to guarantee state security, "Interpolitik-2001." According to Gurov, the legislative section on terrorism is being developed very slowly. He said that following the September 11th events, the whole world started to perfect its legislation in relation to terrorism. In particular, Britain and the USA have taken tough measures. Gurov said that Russian legislation on terrorism had already become obsolete. In his opinion, it is essential that addenda and amendments be introduced to Russian legislation. He particularly pointed to the need to clarify what is meant by the term "terrorism", as it is not clear in the Criminal Code. When talking about these changes, Gurov said that some officials were afraid that "they would be accused of totalitarianism." Alexander Gurov pointed out that at the present moment, when the whole world is confronted by the threat of terrorism, "democratic institutions should not play into the hands of terrorists." He added that it would be better to live with tough laws than not have them at all.