Russian Justice Minister Advocates Early Adoption Of Law To Counteract Extremism

Adopting a law to counteract terrorism is a must, Yuri Chaika, Russian minister of justice, stated Friday talking with journalists. Chaika stressed that the president approved the justice ministry's opinion that the new law adoption should be forced. He noted that the law to counteract extremism had been prepared and would soon be submitted to the State Duma, the lower parliamentary house. Chaika believes the draft law to be "not bad." According to the minister, the draft law defines mechanisms to suspend activity of extremist organisations be it political, national or religious extremism. Chaika noted that the law stipulates setting up a federal centre to combat extremism. Answering journalists' question Yuri Chaika reported that registered organisations of extremist orientation simply do not exist in Russia. He also stressed that should such non-registered organisations operate, "measures envisaged by the Penal Code" will be applied to them.