The HRC discussed the draft Strategy for Countering Extremism, developed by a commission under the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

On June 20, 2014, a special meeting of the Development Council was held civil society and human rights under the President, dedicated to the discussion draft Strategy for countering extremism in the Russian Federation until 2025, presented by the Interdepartmental Commission on Combating Extremism. The strategy was presented by the executive secretary of the commission and the head of the Chief Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for countering extremism Timur Valiullin and his deputy Vladimir Makarov.

Many speakers criticized the draft for the ambiguity of some of the language which in the future may serve as a basis for restricting freedom assembly, freedom of speech on the Internet, increased repression against "non-traditional" Muslims, etc.

Director of the SOVA Center Alexander Verkhovsky briefly presented the project changes in legislation designed to focus countermeasures on phenomena that directly or indirectly associated with violence, as well as to avoid excessive restrictions on civil liberties. In the same vein, criticism was also expressed against of the project, first of all, the concepts used by the authors of the Strategy.

Co-Chairman of the Public Collegium for Press Complaints Yury Kazakov also spoke about the need to clarify and correct concepts. From his point of view some erroneous concepts work more to exacerbate than to reduce tension in society.

Journalist Maxim Shevchenko sharply criticized the very concept "extremism". He also urged not to single out Islam among others. religious directions, as it is done in the Strategy, since it is inevitable will be perceived by many Muslims as discrimination.

Chairman of the Commission of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation for the development of civil society, political scientist Iosif Diskin pointed out the need to work first queue with social grounds from which extremist trends, not ideology.

Lawyer Mikhail Krasnov insisted on the importance of state opposition ideological foundations of extremism.

There were also other opinions. Yes, chairman National Anti-Corruption Committee Kirill Kabanov spoke about the potential danger of computer games, "shooters" as a factor, contributing to the growth of violence in society.

Director of the Department of State Policy in the Sphere of International Relations of the Ministry of Regional Development Alexander Zhuravsky in response to criticism of a number of members The HRC explained that the Strategy is not only formulated in legal terms, since it deals not only with the activities of law enforcement agencies, but also about the policy of the state as a whole.

The strategy was also supported by Alexei Zhafyarov, representative of the Prosecutor General's Office, referring to the principle of protecting democracy from anti-democratic actions. From the point Zhafyarov’s point of view, it is important that, unlike the practice of Western European countries, the norms and concepts of which do not contain a list of specific ideological threats, incl. religious, limiting itself to general principles, the Strategy directly points to dangerous phenomena and groups.

Both Zhuravsky and representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs expressed their readiness to take into account a number of comments HRC members and discussion participants.

Sources

• Inc. inf.